Kalamazoo Resources makes inroads at gold and lithium projects during June quarter

Gold and base metals explorer Kalamazoo Resources (ASX: KZR) has reported further positive developments at its Western Australia-based, New South Wales and Victorian projects for the three months ended 30 June 2022.

Kalamazoo revealed 12 new high priority brownfields and greenfields exploration targets at its Ashburton gold project in WA’s north.

Meanwhile, ongoing work at the company’s Dom’s Hill and Marble Bar lithium projects uncovered additional pegmatite outcrops, with some containing visible lithium mineralisation.

Around 2,300 samples were collected as part of a soil geochemistry program at its Pear Creek lithium project during the period.

A maiden drilling program kicked off May 2022 at its Mallina West gold project, which is close to De Grey Mining’s 9Moz Mallina gold project. Drilling at Mallina West focused on the Wattle Plains and Hockey prospects.

As for Kalamazoo’s NSW activities during the quarter, Kalamazoo was granted the exploration licence EL9403 for the Jingellic lithium project.

Ashburton gold project

At Ashburton, Kalamazoo called on the expertise of Dr Brett Davis, director of Olinda Gold, to assist in identifying key controls on gold mineralisation within the project area and also help with additional exploration target generation.

As a result, a new model of the controls on the gold mineralisation was set up – helping to identify 12 high priority brownfields and greenfields targets for follow-up investigation.

During the quarter, an induced polarisation (IP) geophysical survey commenced looking for the 12 targets located between Mt Olympus and West Olympus pits.

Through positive stage two metallurgical test work results on Mt Olympus composite samples, 45 grams per tonne gold in concentrate was achieved – increasing from 39g/t gold in the original testing.

The company appointed CSA Global during the quarter to complete a scoping study at Ashburton, which is evaluating the development of the open pit and underground deposits at Mt Olympus and Peake. This study is expected to be completed in the September quarter.

Mallina West gold project

At Mallina West, Kalamazoo conducted a 2,500m maiden RC drilling program, which focused on six high priority drill targets.

With results from the assays expected in due course, Kalamazoo also reported permitting and cultural heritage surveys on other prospects are progressing.

WA lithium projects

During the June quarter, Kalamazoo completed soil geochemistry programs at its Dom’s Hill, Marble Bar and Pear Creek lithium projects.

Dom’s Hill and Marble Bar operations returned rock chip results up to 1.6% lithium and 372ppm tantalum.

Its footprint in these areas also expanded to 354.4 square kilometres after the grant of two tenements and the acquisition of the Pear Creek lithium project.

The company confirmed a 5,000m reverse circulation program to commence in early July 2022 in these areas.

Kalamazoo considers the projects “highly prospective for both pegmatite-hosted lithium-caesium-tantalum mineralisation as well as gold”.

Jingellic lithium project

Initial field reconnaissance at Jingellic in southern NSW confirmed the presence of several historical tin-tungsten mine workings and a number of outcropping pegmatite dykes located within the area.

After seeking community engagement, planning has started to begin a “low impact” exploration program.

Victorian projects

Desktop studies on Kalamazoo’s South Muckleford gold project continued during the June quarter, having focused on 3D structural geology modelling, geochemical vectoring investigations and targeting exercises.

The company aims to identify extensional and deeper targets along its defined reef structures which were uncovered in the projects’ maiden drilling program completed back in 2021.

Desktop studies were also conducted at its Castlemaine gold project, while a detailed CSIRO Ultrafine+ multi-element soil geochemistry program was completed at the Myrtle gold project, located 15km north-east of Castlemaine.

Kalamazoo obtained final regulatory approvals at its Tarnagulla gold project, ready to commence an 800m RC/diamond drilling program to test highly prospective, coincident structural and soil geochemistry targets.

It’s anticipated that the drilling will be completed in the December quarter.