Aruma Resources Ltd (ASX:AAJ) continues to expanded its 100%-owned Saltwater Gold Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to fully cover priority anomalies within the project area.
Aruma has applied for three new Exploration Licences – ELA52/3852, ELA52/3854 and ELA52/3857 – covering a total area of 233 sq. km adjoining the existing Saltwater project area
Managing Director, Peter Schwann, said the new licences represent strategic additions to the Saltwater Project area, as they fully encompass the total area which hosts four strong geophysical anomalies, which will be priority exploration targets for Aruma.
The anomalies were identified from an initial geophysical study and a review of existing data conducted by leading geophysical consultants, Terra Resources Pty Ltd.
The Saltwater Project area is interpreted to cover a strike extent of more than 65km of the highly significant Nanjilgardy fault, the same regional structure reported as the primary source of gold mineralisation at Northern Star Resources’ (ASX: NST) Paulsens Gold Mine and the Mt Olympus Gold Mine in the region.
Aruma recently received the grant of Exploration Licences EL52/3816, EL52/3818, EL52/3825 and EL52/3830 at Saltwater. These granted licences cover Aruma’s large-scale priority target areas; the Saltwater Anomaly, the Monster Anomaly and the Black Hill Anomaly.
Access via pre-existing tracks has now been established at the Saltwater Project and Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) parties have been contacted in order to facilitate the commencement of surveys in targeted exploration areas to define drilling targets.
Mr Schwann said Aruma has now finalised plans for its first phase of detailed exploration at the Saltwater Project. An initial reconnaissance site visit has been conducted and has identified the presence of outcropping carbonate-sulphide alteration with associated quartz veining. This area was explored in the early 1980s with excavation and prospecting.
The company will undertake a detailed mapping program, in line with the provisions under the Heritage agreements for the project area, along with a low-impact sampling programme which will target the outcropping areas at a large 60 sq. km elliptical magnetic/conductivity structure – known as the Saltwater Ring Structure.
This initial exploration programme will focus on identifying the stratigraphic and alteration control of mineralisation identified in work by previous explorers to quickly identify drilling areas and targets.
Mr Schwann said Aruma will then apply for a programme of work (PoW) and other regulatory approvals required for drilling, ahead of the first phase of drilling at Saltwater which it expects to be undertaken as soon as possible.
