Tambourah Metals expands battery metals portfolio with Russian Jack project
Tambourah Metals has unveiled a new tin-tantalum-lithium project as preparations for a gold drilling program progress.
ASX debutant Tambourah Metals (ASX: TMB) is adding a new exploration project to its battery metals portfolio as it continues field reconnaissance work in Western Australia ahead of its planned gold drilling campaign.
In a market update, the WA-focused explorer revealed its 100% acquisition of the Russian Jack project in the state’s East Pilbara region, in an area that is considered prospective for tin, tantalum and lithium although no previous drilling has been undertaken.
This new project will add to the company’s 80% stake in the Julimar North project, 100km northeast of Perth, where it plans to explore for nickel and platinum group elements (PGE) at the Bolgart East and Tolarno prospects.
Tambourah also owns the Tambourah and Cheela advanced gold projects, which are both located adjacent to modern gold mines.
The company is a recent entrant to the ASX after raising $8 million through an oversubscribed initial public offering with funds were expected to go towards various exploration programs.
New acquisition expands battery metals portfolio
Tambourah said pegmatite swarms have been identified 1km northeast of the exploration licence application covering the Russian Jack project.
The company has commenced a desktop study and a regional review to evaluate potential lithium-tantalum mineralisation in East Pilbara.
Tambourah’s other battery metals project, Julimar North, comprises exploration licences covering Bolgart East and Tolarno, plus two licence applications at Yerecoin and Mogumber.
The granted tenements lie east of Chalice Gold Mines’ (ASX: CHN) Julimar deposit, which was confirmed as a major new PGE-nickel-copper-cobalt-gold discovery in 2020.
In today’s project update, Tambourah said mapping, sampling and ground electromagnetic surveys will commence shortly at Bolgart East.
Field work commences at Tambourah gold project
Gold was previously mined at Tambourah at the turn of the 20th Century with total production of 5,247 ounces.
Historic drilling at the project returned numerous high-grade hits such as 1m at 7.1 grams per tonne gold; 10m at 10.6g/t gold, including 8m at 13g/t gold; and 2m at 3.2g/t gold, including 1m at 6g/t gold.
Another previous explorer generated gold hits up to 21.54g/t gold during a 1,000m drilling program in 2019.
These higher-grade hits were from the Western Chief prospect which also hosts historic mine workings.
Last month – about a week after listing – Tambourah announced field reconnaissance and logistics planning was underway at its namesake gold project to confirm drilling targets and locations ahead of a drilling campaign.
The planned 1,500 reverse circulation drilling program is designed to test additional mineralisation along the Western Chief section of the Tambourah project, with a view to further extend known mineralisation.
Drilling is anticipated to start this month upon the granting of service contracts, Tambourah chairperson Rita Brooks said.
“Recent drilling in the Western Chief Mine prospect defined 21 grams per tonne gold at 39m and there are several more targets defined with 3D modelling of nearby drilling information,” she added.
In today’s project update, Tambourah said pegmatites have recently been identified at the gold project and detailed mapping and sampling of these will begin while planned gold exploration continues.