Emmerson Resources reports positive results from drilling at Hermitage copper-gold discovery
Phase two drilling within Emmerson’s Tennant Creek project has confirmed the initial high-grade copper-gold discovery at Hermitage.
Assay results from a phase two drilling program have supported the emerging Hermitage copper-gold discovery at Emmerson Resources’ (ASX: ERM) wholly-owned project area in the Northern Territory.
Drilling was designed to build on previous high-grade results and expand the potential down plunge beneath the fault where copper has been intersected outside of the ironstones.
Key highlights were 94.4m at 2.74% copper, 5.58 grams per tonne gold, 17.88g/t silver and 0.44% bismuth from 85m, including 17.8m at 1.57% copper, 0.22g/t gold, 0.17% cobalt and 0.11% bismuth, which in turn contained an even higher-grade 5.8m intercept grading at 3.4% copper, 0.53g/t gold, 0.33% cobalt and 0.24% bismuth from 95.4m.
Other results were 21.2m at 2.62% copper from 129m; 5.8m at 11.06% copper, 0.98g/t gold, 0.15% cobalt and 0.27% bismuth from 150.2m; 21.6m at 4.11% copper, 25.91g/t gold, 74.89g/t silver and 1.83% bismuth from 157m, including 9.4m at 7.27% copper, 58.02g/t gold and 3.74% bismuth from 159.4m, which contained 4.8m at 19.44% copper, 214.39g/t gold, 103.8g/t silver, 13.75% bismuth and 0.12% cobalt from 164m.
Hermitage is part of a cluster of prospects where modern exploration technologies are unlocking new discoveries.
A hallmark of the Tennant Creek ore bodies is the correlation of elevated metal grades with magnetite-hematite ironstones.
Emmerson said future drilling will focus on pinpointing a continuation of the central ironstone beneath the fault.
Exceeding expectations
Emmerson managing director Rob Bills said drilling results have exceeded the company’s expectations.
“Drilling has confirmed the initial high grade copper discovery grading 3.4% copper and 0.88g/t gold with the addition of high-grade gold, cobalt, and bismuth,” he said.
“Encouragingly, the gold-silver-bismuth grades increase at depth with the best intersection being immediately above and truncated by the fault potential to extend these grades with further drilling below the fault.”
The presence of cobalt and bismuth in the latest assays adds to the inventory of future-facing metals relevant to the battery, superconductor, magnet and 3D printing industries.
“Hermitage is shaping up as a high-grade, multi-commodity discovery,” Mr Bills said.
“Once we receive the final assays in this program, the geological model will be updated and more drilling planned to test the extent of the high-grade mineralisation, particularly beneath the fault,” he added.