WA1 Resources kicks off field program at West Arunta IOCG project
WA1 Resources is gearing up for a maiden drilling program to begin at West Arunta in the September quarter.
Junior explorer WA1 Resources (ASX: WA1) has begun a program of geological field mapping and sampling at its West Arunta project located in a remote region of Western Australia, 490km south of Halls Creek.
The project area has significance because WA1’s ground is contiguous to an area into which Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has committed to a staged $58.5 million farm-in and joint venture with a private company.
WA1 was listed on the ASX in February with its main objective being to discover a tier-one mineral deposit in Western Australia’s underexplored regions.
The company has pledged to having a positive impact on the remote communities within the lands on which it operates.
Plans for maiden drilling program ‘well advanced’
While mapping along with rock chip and soil sampling is now underway, the company says preparations are “well advanced” for a maiden drill program across multiple targets.
WA1’s target is an iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposit that was identified at the Pachpadra prospect by geophysical surveys carried out last year.
Two separate exploration teams are carrying out the current fieldwork at the Pachpadra prospect.
One team is undertaking geological mapping while the second is tasked with surface geochemical sampling.
Detailed mapping will be completed this month.
First field work ever on Pachpadra target
Managing director Paul Savich said this current program is the first field work to be completed at Pachpadra.
“Our existing understanding of the local geology has been influenced largely by detailed geophysics,” he added.
The primary objective of the current work is to enhance exploration targeting for initial drill testing.
“Sampling will provide material for analysis and possible identification of pathfinder anomalism as well as testing for other types of mineralisation.
Mr Savich said that WA1 is now in the planning stages of a heritage survey.
Drilling remains on track for the September quarter this year.
A drilling contractor has been engaged to carry out reverse circulation drilling.
Apart from Pachpadra, the West Arunta project contains the Sambhar and Urmia prospects.
Previous work in the entire project area had been limited to exploration for gold and copper largely in the form of reconnaissance airborne geophysics, limited ground surveys and surface sampling.