Oar Resources confirms high-grade halloysite and kaolinite at Gibraltar project
Initial drill results from Oar Resources’ Gibraltar have uncovered high-grade halloysite and kaolinite.
Oar Resources (ASX: OAR) has confirmed rare high-grade halloysite, along with kaolinite minerals are present within its Gibraltar project in South Australia, which adjoins Andromeda Metals’ (ASX: ADN) advanced Mount Hope project in the region.
A maiden aircore drilling program at Gibraltar has uncovered halloysite within 24 out of 59 holes drilled. Kaolinite was present in all holes sampled.
Highlight intercepts were 13m at 5% halloysite and 84% kaolinite from 13m; 3m at 20% halloysite and 42% kaolinite from 26m; and 3m at 10% halloysite and 46% kaolinite from 11m.
Oar noted the high presence of halloysite provides “encouragement” it will expand on this discovery – particularly given the project’s proximity to Andromeda’s Mount Hope tenements.
“The company believes it has identified a high-grade halloysite zone at which further drilling could improve the resource potential of the very exciting discovery,” Oar stated.
Chasing historic results
Oar’s strategy for the current drilling program at Gibraltar was to follow up on a single halloysite occurrence that was identified in an historic report.
Based on the noted occurrence in the report, Oar undertook 2,044m at the northern block in a nominal 100m by 100m grid pattern around the historic hole. This widened to 200m by 200m to the south and included two scout lines of drilling even further south.
Results have identified a high-grade halloysite zone exceeding 10% in the last hole of the scout line drilling. Additional exploration will immediately be planned to follow up on this discovery.
Second drilling campaign
Oar has secured final drill approvals and will kicked-off a second “aggressive” drilling campaign to extend known halloysite mineralisation.
The drilling program is fully-funded and will begin next month once a rig has been sourced.
Results from both campaigns are expected to underpin a maiden resource estimate for the project.
Drilling at the project so far has only covered a 5 square kilometre area, with plenty of upside available across the broader 317sq km landholding the exploration licence covers.
Oar to focus on halloysite potential
The South Australian Government officially granted Oar the Gibraltar exploration licence in October last year.
Gibraltar is adjacent to Mount Hope where Andromeda completed an aircore drilling program and reported areas of 20% halloysite.
With Andromeda’s prospective halloysite and kaolin project only 16km away and along strike, at Gibraltar, Oar is focused on the project’s halloysite content.
Halloysite is a rare form of kaolin that commands a much higher price.
It is used in industrial applications and has potential in many more including pharmaceutical drug delivery, carbon capture, medical grade ceramics, and as a feedstock for production of high purity alumina, which is increasingly used in sustainable and renewable energy technologies.