Bryah Resources Limited (ASX:BYH) has confirmed the presence of shallow high-grade manganese with grades exceeding 50% Mn over 10cm intervals recorded in full drill core scanned using high-resolution non-destructive XRF analysis.
The assays were obtained in a diamond drilling programme recently completed at its Bryah Basin Manganese Joint Venture project (60% Bryah/40% OM (Manganese) Limited (OMM)), which is located approximately 150 km north of the town of Meekatharra in central Western Australia.
The diamond drilling programme to recover core for analysis and metallurgical testwork was completed in January 2021. In total seven holes for 201m were completed with two holes drilled at the Horseshoe South Extended area and 5 holes drilled at the Brumby Creek Project.
Full uncut diamond core was recently scanned using a non-destructive XRF analysis of the full core length. This novel technology provides assay data at 10cm intervals along the core to be acquired and evaluated. This technique when compared to nearby 1 metre samples from RC drilling give insights into the nature of the manganese mineralisation and the beneficiation potential of the deposits.
Managing Director, Neil Marston, said the results of the core scanning for drill hole BRDD005 included 48 10cm intervals grading between 30% – 40% Mn and fifteen (15) samples exceeding 40% Mn, with a peak grade of 52.6% Mn over a 10cm Interval.
These grades greatly advance our project understanding as we move the company towards mining and manganese production,” Mr Marston said.
“Importantly our exploration to date has targeted just a small part of the manganiferous Horseshoe Range, with approximately 70 kilometres of this prospective feature under our control. These core scanning results confirm visual observations of the presence of some exceptionally high-grade manganese in the Bryah Basin.
“By using this innovative technology we have been able to determine that significant manganese mineralisation is present, with grades ranging from 30% manganese to in excess of 50% manganese.
“Our intention is to take this core and conduct a series of beneficiation tests to ascertain the best methods to use to produce a quality manganese product.
“Those results will flow into our mineral resource estimation work, which should be completed later this quarter.”
Core Scanning Results
Drill hole BRDD005 was drilled to test a high-grade zone of manganese identified by Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling at Area 74 within the Brumby Creek Project.
For drill hole BRDD005 the significant manganese intervals from the XRF analysis were: