Astro Resources NL (ASX:ARO) is making strong progress to unlock the value of its 100%-owned Governor Broome Mineral Sands Project in the southwest of WA, with a pivotal infill resource drilling program at the Jack Track deposit well advanced.
The infill drilling is about two-thirds complete, with 339 holes for a combined 3,570 metres completed at Jack Track Northwest, West and Southwest.
Drilling has now moved to the high-value eastern zone, where 207 holes for 2,300 metres are expected to be drilled by early May.
Governor Broome Project Resources – at 2% heavy minerals lower block-cut-off grade.
High-value minerals
The Jack Track deposit contains 96.5% heavy minerals, including 10.5% zircon and 85.5% titanium minerals, with the primary ilmenite containing 58% titanium dioxide (TiO2).
The infill drilling program is aimed at lifting the inferred category of the deposit's mineral resource estimate to the higher confidence indicated category by the end of August, which will allow the company to embark upon and complete a scoping study in the first quarter of next year.
Jack Track resources – blue is Indicated, orange is inferred.
High-quality project
“I am pleased to see the excellent progress we have made with the infill drilling, with the completion of this pivotal program now in clear sight,” Astro’s executive chairman Tony Leibowitz said.
“This will mark an important step in advancing the Governor Broome Project towards a scoping study.
“Governor Broome is a high-quality opportunity for our shareholders due to its size, high-value mineralogy and central location in the mineral sands ‘heartland’ of southwestern Western Australia.
“The completion of a scoping study will give investors an insight into the economic significance of the project and provide us with a clear pathway to unlocking this value for our shareholders.”
Well-connected
The Governor Broome Project benefits from solid infrastructure access.
It is about 95 kilometres by sealed road south of Busselton, 105 kilometres south of Iluka Resources’ processing plant at Capel and 135 kilometres from Bunbury Port and from Picton, where Doral has a heavy mineral separation plant.
The project has access to a 132-kilovolt power line just 5 kilometres to the north, as well as a three-phase power line, which passes through the project.
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