Tempest Minerals hits copper sulphides in maiden drilling at Meleya project
Tempest Minerals董事总经理Don Smith表示，在Orion目标的第一个洞中，相交的可见铜矿化是一个“壮观的结果”。
Junior explorer Tempest Minerals (ASX: TEM) has hit visible copper sulphide mineralisation during maiden drilling at the Orion target within its flagship Meleya project, 400km north of Perth in Western Australia’s Yalgoo region.
The first hole of the two-hole deep drilling program intersected multiple mineralisation horizons including 8m of interbedded semi-massive base metal/magnetite mineralised geological strata from 18m; 10m of copper-bearing semi-massive sulphides within a 20m disseminated sulphide zone from 422m; and 18m of copper-bearing disseminated and stringer veins within a broader 100m disseminated sulphide and strongly potassic-altered intrusives zone from 610m to end of hole.
Copper minerals, such as chalcopyrite, were also observed throughout the core, supported by portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF) work.
The hole was drilled to 709m total depth and the zones have drawn comparisons to the nearby world-class Golden Grove polymetallic mine owned by 29Metals (ASX: 29M).
The second hole, positioned 300m to the southwest and being drilled to 1,100m, is currently in the final stages with completion targeted for month end.
Tempest’s drilling program at Orion has been co-funded under the state’s Exploration Incentive Scheme designed to stimulate new mineral discoveries.
Spectacular outcome
Managing director Don Smith said the maiden drill hole produced a “spectacular outcome”.
“To make a new discovery on our very first hole in an entirely untested region has far exceeded our expectations,” he said.
“Drilling was designed to help understand the geology and to inform future exploration and we’ve actually hit multiple zones of sulphides and copper mineralisation shows that our tech innovation, science and hard work are paying off.”
He said the exploration team “was just itching” to analyse the results, complete more drilling and continue exploring the hundreds of square kilometres of untested ground along strike secured by the company.
Exploration opportunities
The Meleya project extends over a footprint of more than 900sq km and comprises target zones believed to represent one of Australia’s most exciting greenfields base and precious metal exploration opportunities.
Tempest has identified more than 50km of strike length over a previously unrecognised and unexplored segment of the Yalgoo Greenstone Belt which hosts a number of world-class mines.
The first drill holes confirmed the presence of interpreted stratigraphy including the Yalgoo Greenstone Belt and Golden Grove Formations, with the Orion target containing several mineralised zones within these geological units.
Tempest currently has a dominant landholding position in the Yalgoo mineralised province including a recent 100% expansion of its granted tenure.