Bryah Resources discovers Cheval manganese prospect at Bryah Basin project
Rock chip samples at Bryah Resources’ newly identified Cheval prospect returned up to 41.3% manganese.
Fresh after revealing it had intersected “significant” manganese, Bryah Resources (ASX: BYH) has discovered a new manganese prospect at the Bryah Basin project in central Western Australia.
The new prospect known as Cheval is 5km north-west of the project’s historic Horseshoe South mine.
A rock chip sampling program led to the discovery, along with mapping of manganese outcrops that cover 500m of the prospect.
Assays from the 35 rock chip samples revealed 15 that were above 30% manganese including a peak grade of 41.3%. Another 15 of the samples assayed between 20-30% manganese.
“The new find is particularly exciting in light of Bryah’s recent success in defining significant mineralisation at Brumby Creek,” Bryah managing director Neil Marston said.
“Brumby Creek was only identified as an exploration target in July last year and recent drilling is now defining significant manganese mineralisation,” he added.
Bryah is advancing permitting activities at Cheval to begin drilling the prospect “as soon as possible”.
Brumby Creek and Horseshoe South
Today’s discovery follows on from Bryah revealing it had intersected “significant” manganese during drilling at the Brumby Creek prospect.
Notable drill results from Brumby Creek were 15m at 26.2% manganese from 3m, including 2m at 33.5% manganese; 10m at 22.6% manganese from 1m, including 2m at 30.3% manganese; and 8m at 24.1% manganese, including 2m at 31% manganese.
Meanwhile, assays were also reported for the company’s Horseshoe South prospect which returned up to 42.2% manganese.
Better results from Horseshoe South were 12m at 24.9% manganese from 7m, including 2m at 31.4% manganese; 5m at 28.8% manganese from 4m, including 1m at 42.2% manganese; and 3m at 27.8% manganese from 6m, including 1m at 35.7% manganese.
Horseshoe South hosts a historic manganese mine, which is believed to be the largest in the region.
During its operation, the mine produced 1 million tonnes of high-grade manganese material.
OM Holdings (ASX: OMH) is funding the manganese drilling campaign under a joint venture that was entered into in April with Bryah.
The joint venture paves the way for OM to earn up to 70% in the project’s manganese rights and covers 660 square kilometres of project’s tenements.
To earn the full 70% stake, OM will spend $7.3 million on manganese exploration.
Exploration funding is in stages, with the first stage comprising a $500,000 spend before the end of the month.
Prior to market open, Bryah’s share price was at $0.064.