AuKing Mining Ltd (ASX:AKN) has confirmed the intersection of further copper mineralisation at the Emull deposit within its flagship Koongie Park Project in Western Australia’s Halls Creek region, setting the stage for the release of an initial resource estimate for Emull before the end of the year.
Three reverse circulation (RC) drill holes for more than 818 metres all encountered copper mineralisation.
Plan view of the Emull deposit highlighting the latest drill holes that have been completed.
Potential for open pit mine
AuKing chief executive officer Paul Williams said the new drilling at Emull confirmed a continuity of mineralisation across the known deposit area and intersected more copper, zinc and silver at depth, and in areas that were previously not believed to be mineralised at all.
“Emull is a significant near-surface, low-grade primary sulphide copper resource which offers strong potential for a shallow, bulk tonnage, open pit operation at Koongie Park,” Williams said.
“The new drilling program has effectively closed the ‘gaps’ in mineralisation in certain zones of the main deposit area and extended the known mineralisation at greater depth.
“The combined assay results since August have increased our confidence in the prospect and will serve the planned delivery of an initial resource estimate by the end of this year.”
Important confirmation
Drilling at Emull this year has confirmed historic drilling results as well as identified a broad, near-surface copper and zinc resource.
Notably, the work program has confirmed the continuity of the mineralisation both along strike and at depth.
Highlights of the latest results include:
- 11 metres at 0.32% copper, 1.07% zinc and 5 g/t silver from 134 metres, including 2 metres at 0.71% copper, 5.29% zinc and 13 g/t silver from 137 metres;
- 5 metres at 0.40% copper, 2.83% zinc and 8 g/t silver from 32 metres, including 2 metres at 0.58% copper, 5.95% zinc and 11 g/t silver from 33 metres and 15 metres at 0.30% copper, 0.03% zinc and 6 g/t silver from 185 metres;
- 41 metres at 0.34% copper, 0.52% zinc and 6 g/t silver from 122 metres and 2 metres at 1.23% copper, 0.02% zinc and 9 g/t silver from 237 metres.
AuKing’s flagship Koongie Park Copper-Zinc Project hosts a JORC resource and is neighboured by several significant mining and development operations, including Nicholson’s Gold Mine, Panton PGM Project,and Savannah Nickel Mine.
Koongie Park has already been the subject of significant exploration drilling and analysis since the 1970s, hosting more than 300 RC and diamond drill holes consisting of more than 60,000 metres of drilling in total.
The predominant focus of drilling has been at the Sandiego, Onedin and Emull deposits, the latter of which offers the potential to establish an open pit mine.
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