Aruma Resources Ltd (ASX:AAJ) has received rock-chip sample results that confirm the multi-commodity potential of its 100%-owned Saltwater Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The mineral exploration company’s ongoing field program to collect samples from targets based on radiometric, geophysical and structural data has confirmed the presence of battery-grade manganese and cobalt.
Additionally, the samples have verified the existence of large-scale volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) systems, with elements such as iron, barium, copper, lead, zinc and arsenic.
The results also include a series of sandstone-hosted uranium and vanadium anomalies.
Aruma believes Saltwater could be a significant district-scale multi-commodity mineralised system.
Mineral-rich outcome
The company’s rock chip sampling comprises two phases, with 30% of the project area covered to date.
So far, the work has identified outcropping high-grade polymetallic samples with readings such as:
- AR14069 - 40% manganese (Mn), 5.4% barium (Ba), 0.36% cobalt (Co), 0.25% copper (Cu) and 3.53 g/t silver (Ag);
- AR14068 - 38% Mn, 4.7% Ba, 0.35% Co, 0.27% Cu and 4.70 g/t Ag;
- AR14067 - 16% Mn, 1.6% Ba, 0.30% Co, 0.16% Cu and 4.86 g/t Ag;
- AR13010 - 0.16% vanadium; and
- AR13051 – 39 parts per million uranium.
In addition to previously reported cobalt-copper and rare earth elements (REEs), the sampling also detected the presence of iron-lead-zinc-arsenic with scores such as:
- AR14009 - 57% iron (Fe), 0.42% arsenic (As) and 0.27% zinc (Zn);
- AR14010 - 42% Fe, 0.12% As and 0.26% Zn; and
- AR13049 - 0.40% lead, 0.21% barium and 0.11% copper.
High-value target
“The results generated to date from our ongoing sampling program at Saltwater are highly encouraging and validate our technical team's ability to consistently extract materially positive results from our initial, targeted fieldwork,” Aruma managing director Glenn Grayson said.
“Based on results to date, we are confident in our view that we have identified a high-value target for battery-grade manganese-cobalt, multiple VMS targets, as well as a promising uranium prospect."
More sampling work
The Saltwater Project consists of four granted exploration licences, EL52/3818, EL52/3846, EL52/3857 and EL52/3966, covering 450 square kilometres.
It is 120 kilometres southwest of the emerging REE province of Newman.
Aruma’s current fieldwork at Saltwater is an early-stage, first-phase exploration.
The ASX-lister plans to continue with its systematic exploration to define priority drill targets for an initial phase of drilling.
Further mapping and sampling of geophysical and structural targets and the completion of specific geophysics over target zones will commence later this month.