Navarre Minerals identifies multiple new drill targets from historic Mt Carlton geophysical data

The re-processing and interpretation of legacy geophysical data from the Mt Carlton operation in northern Queensland has highlighted multiple high-priority drill targets for owner Navarre Minerals (ASX: NML).

The data covers 815 square kilometres of the tenement package and was included as part of the $90 million project acquisition in December 2021.

It features various magnetic, gravity, radiometric, electrical and hyperspectral geophysical surveys.

Re-processing identified 32 drill targets reported to be proximal to mine infrastructure and sharing similar geophysical response patterns.

They generally occur in clusters and form linear features interpreted to represent structurally-controlled mineral trends comprising potential multiple-stacked ore lenses.

Geological observations

Most of the targets have been verified by geological observations including outcrop of surface veins and strong epithermal alteration assemblages.

The largest and most intense one is a coincident chargeability and resistivity anomaly located 1.4km southeast of the processing plant.

It is believed to be potentially larger in scale than the adjacent 1-million-ounce V2 gold-silver-copper open pit mine and linked to V2 by a previously unrecognised northwest trending fault.

All targets remain untested by drilling.

Target identification

The reprocessed geophysical surveys were compared against known mineral deposits to characterise the geophysical response of the gold-silver-copper mineralisation.

Similar responses outside of the existing resource areas were then identified as potential targets.

The anomalies underwent a systems approach of interpretation incorporating stratigraphy, topography, structural geology, geochemistry, metal zonation and the orientation of known mineral trends to produce 3D models of target zones for drilling and further exploration.

Navarre has planned a similar program of reprocessing and interpretation legacy geophysics for the Crush Creek project area, 30km south of Mt Carlton.

Expanding knowledge

Navarre managing director Ian Holland said the new targets will be key to expanding the geological knowledge of the main resource areas on the mine lease.

“Our work over the past 12 months of Mt Carlton ownership has demonstrated the extensive epithermal style gold-silver-copper mineralisation present within the tenement area,” he said.

“Following re-appraisal of the geophysical data, the prospectivity has been substantially enhanced and we look forward to the potential discovery of more significant mineralisation to grow mineral inventory and expand mine life.”

He said surface drilling preparations had commenced for the start of the Navarre’s 10,000-metre large orebody discovery exploration (LODE) initiative in March.