Castle Minerals Limited (ASX: CDT) has commenced a 2,323 line-km high- resolution aeromagnetic survey at its 79 sq. km Beasley Creek gold project in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.
The survey is being flown to support a search primarily for Archean, structurally-controlled, orogenic- style gold mineralisation.
Reconnaissance bulk stream sediment sampling by Castle in late-2020 showed several of the streams draining the older Archean sedimentary lithologies intruded by the Rocklea Dome granodiorite to be anomalous in gold. All 47 of the samples collected from a 12km-wide area across the licence were anomalous in gold with a peak value of 92ppb Au.
Managing Director, Stephen Stone, said anomalous values occurred in four specific zones; Beasley West, Beasley Central, Beasley East and Beasley Far East.
A site visit to field check the areas around the anomalous drainages confirmed that they are usually proximal to undocumented outcrops of gossan and quartz veins. These veins are extremely weathered and show remnant sulphide textures and malachite staining which is indicative of copper mineralisation.
The data from the just commenced 2,323 line-kilometre high-resolution aeromagnetic survey will enable Castle to more tightly focus mapping and sampling at Beasley Creek as we advance the project towards the drilling phase,” Mr Stone said.
“Anomalous gold at several locations where we have undertaken bulk stream sediment sampling, the presence of quartz veining proximal to these, observations of remnant sulphide textures and malachite staining in some veins plus the recovery of small gold nuggets in the same localities, all combined reinforces the need to progress this increasingly interesting project.”
At Beasley West, upstream from anomalous stream sediment samples, strongly sheared dolerite and gabbro were identified with silicification and stockwork, vuggy quartz veining and ironstone. These zones appear to correlate with north-north-west trending shears interpreted from regional scale aeromagnetic imagery. Sandstone units that are also cut by the same shears show strong silicification and ironstone staining.
Magspec Airbourne Surveys Pty Ltd has been contracted to undertake the survey which will collect magnetic, radiometric and topographical data.
Terra Resources Pty Ltd will process and interpret the data.
Castle recently applied to the WA Government for an Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) co-funding drilling grant to assist with the funding of three 250m diamond core holes to provide important stratigraphical and structural data at Beasley Creek. These will be collared in and drilled though the Hardy Formation, across the basal conglomerate and unconformity and into the underlying older Archean greenstone sedimentary rocks.
