Rumble Resources confirms large-scale discoveries at Earaheedy zinc-lead project

Drilling at the Earaheedy zinc-lead project in Western Australia has highlighted two large-scale, large tonnage discoveries for part-owner Rumble Resources (ASX: RTR).

Three reverse circulation holes drilled 500m apart at the Chinook prospect returned significant flat lying zinc-lead with silver mineralisation with a best intercept of 11m at 3.35% zinc, 0.78% lead and 12.78 grams per tonne silver from 61m within a broader zone of 22m at 2.04% zinc and 0.48% lead from 53m.

Other results were 5m at 1.68% zinc, 0.15% lead from 72m, and 12m at 0.48% zinc, 0.72% lead and 1.4g/t silver from 43m.

Drilling had defined strong continuity of flat-lying mineralisation over 1,000m of strike.

In association with historic drill holes which returned significant mineralisation, Rumble said Chinook had demonstrated strong continuity normal to strike.

The prospect is “completely open” north-west and south-east along strike and up-dip, and “very limited drilling” has been completed down-dip.

Magazine results

At the Magazine prospect, 16 holes were drilled over a strike of approximately 5km within the south-east portion of the target.

Rumble said eight holes intercepted zinc-lead mineralisation in the northern portion of the area tested, while the remaining eight were “drilled too far” to the southwest and intercepted the lower purple shale (below the unconformity), indicating the prospective sandstone unit contact is to the northeast.

The best recorded intercept at Magazine was 11m at 1.45% zinc, 0.6% lead and 3.2g/t silver from 70m true width.

Another seven holes reportedly intersected variable widths and generally low-grade zinc and lead.

Like Chinook, Magazine is believed to be open along strike to the northwest, south-east and up-dip, with some 10km of untested strike between the two prospects.

Project potential

Rumble technical director Brett Keillor said the drilling results point to Earaheedy’s large-scale potential.

“These latest results confirm the large-scale potential for unconformity-related, sandstone-hosted zinc-lead deposits at this project,” he said.

“Our shallow exploration target (40 million tonnes to 100Mt at up to 4.5% zinc-lead) is based on recent drilling results, our geological understanding of the mineralisation geometry, continuity of mineralisation and regional geology, and highlights the potential for Earaheedy to be a world-class tier one base metal province.”

He said significant widths of prospective sandstone with grades of more than 4% zinc-lead and silver credits over broad areas augurs well for large-tonnage, shallow deposits along the 20km of strike defined to date.

Paroo comparison

Earaheedy has been compared to the nearby Paroo Station open-cut lead project owned by private Canadian company LeadFX Inc.

Paroo is a large supergene (predominantly lead carbonate) deposit under shallow cover.

Based on work to date, Earaheedy is believed to be a sulphide system (galena and sphalerite) which is geologically equivalent to Paroo’s mineralisation.

At midday, shares in Rumble were up 1.30% to $0.078.