Thomson Resources builds polymetallic potential at Mt Carrington with resource upgrade
Thomson Resources executive chairman David Williams says Mt Carrington has “unrealised base metal potential” along with its gold and silver prospectivity.
Thomson Resources (ASX: TMZ) has updated resources to include zinc and copper for the Strauss and Kylo gold-silver deposits within its Mt Carrington project in Queensland.
This was Thomson’s first step in upgrading resources for all deposits within Mt Carrington to reflect the project’s polymetallic potential.
JORC indicated and inferred resources for Strauss and Kylo now stand at 6 million tonnes grading 1.17 grams per tonne gold, 1.59g/t silver, 0.33% zinc and 0.06% copper for a contained 225,000 ounces of gold, 306,000oz silver, 19,800t of zinc and 3,500t copper.
Thomson is earning a 70% interest in Mt Carrington from White Rock Minerals (ASX: WRM) over two stages.
White Rock had previously developed an estimate for Strauss and Kylo. Compared to White Rock’s resource, Thomson’s update represents a 21% increase in tonnes, with a 2% rise in contained gold ounces, along with a 17% boost to silver ounces and a 100% increase in contained zinc and copper tonnes.
Unlocking polymetallic potential
Thomson executive chairman David Williams said the wider Mt Carrington project “has a lot of unrealised base metal potential” along with the silver and gold.
He said it was great “to finally talk about” Mt Carrington’s polymetallic potential in context of the company’s Hub and Spoke strategy, which involves establishing a centrally-located processing hub to refine ore mined from the company’s assets that lie along the New England Fold Belt that spans Queensland and New South Wales.
Mr Williams noted that the updated resources for Strauss and Kylo were “conservative estimates” as they are limited to the previously determined “gold only” pit shells modelled under White Rock’s pre-feasibility study.
“We will come back later to pick up on the mineralisation that may exist outside of those shells.”
Next steps in unlocking the polymetallic potential at Mt Carrington will involve metallurgical test work to optimise recoveries of all metals.
Thomson will also aim to deliver upgraded resources for the Guy Bell, Carrington, Lady Hampden, Silver King and White Rock deposits within the project, along with a global estimate.
“The Mt Carrington picture will continue to evolve and will enhance the New England Fold Belt Hub and Spoke strategy as we complete the updated mineral resource estimates, fold them into the central processing pathway study, progress the metallurgical understanding and embark on drill testing the areas between the various deposits,” Mr Williams said.
He added he was confident the updated Mt Carrington estimates will facilitate the company hitting its 100Moz of silver equivalent target in contained resources across its entire portfolio in the region.