Pantera Minerals Limited (ASX:PFE) has intercepted near surface manganese mineralisation in 16 out of 30 Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes at the Weelarrana Project, located in the Collier Basin of Western Australia.
The results from Weelarrana’s maiden drilling program have confirmed the mineralisation within Mn Area 1, with the mineralisation open in two directions,” CEO, Matt Hansen, said.
“The identification of an additional two broad areas of manganese mineralisation during the recent soil and rock chip sampling program adds to the potential for the discovery of a high-grade manganese mineralisation project.
“We now look forward to progressing the Project through further exploration with drilling of the other known mineralised areas, Mn Areas 2, 3 and 4 in Q2 2023.”
Manganese mineralisation was intercepted on four of the five drill lines over a strike length of 600m and is open to the north and east.
The best intercepts are 5m @ 12.3% Mn from surface in drill hole WRC001, 3m @ 19.7% Mn from 3m in drill hole WRC013 and 2m @ 17.1% Mn from 3m in drill hole WRC019. Table 2 shows all significant (>6% Mn) manganese intercepts.
A soil sampling programme was conducted over tenements E52/3891 and E52/4046 targeting fault hosted gold and base metal mineralisation in late December 2022, sampling results expected in late Quarter 2 2023.
A total of 136 soil samples and nine rock chip samples were taken from E52/3891 covered the interpreted position of the Ilgarari Fault to test the area for potential gold and base metal mineralisation.
A total of 160 soil samples were taken from E52/4046 over an area of subcropping mafic to ultramafic rock to test the area for potential gold and base metal mineralisation.
A total of 35 rock chip samples were taken on tenement E52/4071 from areas of subcropping to outcropping manganiferous shale that correlates with the Balfour Formation which is a known host for manganese mineralisation within the area. Two areas were identified with numerous outcrops of manganiferous shale with each area measuring approximately 2500m x 1000m.
Next Steps
An infill RC drill programme will now be planned and permitted to better understand the manganese grade and thickness variability through the centre of the completed drill program area (Mn Area 1) as well as looking to extend manganese mineralisation to the north and east.
Drill programmes will now be permitted over Mn Areas 2, 3 and 4 with RC drilling anticipated to re- commence Quarter 2 2023. See Figure 4 for the location of Mn Areas 2 to 4.