Mapping and soil sampling programs have seen Intra Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX:IEC) identify new gold anomalies at the Maggie Hays Hill Project in the Lake Johnston Greenstone Belt in Western Australia.
The project, which has lithium and gold potential, is adjacent to the Maggie Hays mine, processing infrastructure and camp that was recently acquired by Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN) as a regional lithium processing hub.
It is also 25 kilometres north of the Burmeister spodumene deposit held by TG Metals and 25 kilometres northwest of the Medcalf spodumene deposit held by Charger Metals Ltd and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO).
Tenement location map overlayed on geology showing regional lithium deposits.
Mapping identifies new quartz veins
Intra Energy identified two parallel mineralised quartz veins earlier this month, each being more than 200 metres in length, with rock chip assays ranging from 0.8 g/t to 17.8 g/t gold.
The newly discovered quartz veins occur 100 metres to the east and are mapped over 200 metres strike length. Multiple samples have been submitted for assay with results expected in April.
Mapping has also identified extensions to the previously reported quartz veins with new quartz outcrops identified 150 metres along strike. This extends the strike length of the known veins to 350 metres.
The veins are open along strike 600 metres to the northwest and 400 metres to the southeast where soil anomalies greater than 10ppb gold have been reported.
Gold mineralisation area showing rock sampling results, new sampling in blue, vein trends and potential extensions to mineralisation (red dashed lines).
These gold discoveries complement the existing lithium drill targets already identified at the project.
Multiple veins and a large anomaly
Intra Energy managing director Ben Dunn said, “The current gold exploration program being conducted by our principal geologist Todd Hibberd has been very successful, identifying multiple mineralised quartz veins and a large gold in soil anomaly.
“All this work has been achieved in the two months since we acquired Maggie Hays Hill and we will continue to work quickly and efficiently to unlock shareholder value in this very promising project.
“We note with some excitement that Mineral Resources intends to develop a regional lithium processing hub only 12 kilometres north of our lithium project. The acquisition of the Maggie Hays Hill Project looks increasingly timely and remarkably good value, with the opportunity for both gold and lithium discoveries in a region with the ability to process both.”
“Beyond the gold exploration, we have identified multiple outcropping pegmatites, the presence of spodumene and multiple large-scale lithium anomalies. The company is confident that the assay results for the remaining part of the current soils program will identify further drill targets.
“Todd is now focused on finalising our drilling campaign and we intend to test these targets in the June quarter. Watch this space!”
Large-scale gold anomalism identified
Further analysis of soil sampling data has identified several small gold anomalies with values up to 78 ppb and a large gold anomaly that covers a 650-metre by 150-metre area.
The anomaly is characterised by gold in soil values ranging from 12ppb to 44ppb, occurring in mafic rocks adjacent to a major NNW-SSE fault and is open to the north. IEC will conduct mapping and infill sampling over this area in the next quarter to refine drilling targets.
Further work
The Identification of multiple gold anomalies and the high-grade nature of the quartz vein gold mineralisation requires further careful evaluation as there is substantial scale potential.
The company says there are several untested gold anomalies in the southern part of the tenement that require evaluation and a further 754 soil geochemistry results still outstanding for the central and southern parts of the tenement.
When the remaining soil results are received, the company will evaluate all gold anomalies identified and conduct detailed mapping and sampling prior to finalising drilling plans.
The gold discoveries complement the existing lithium drill targets already identified and a combined heritage survey and drilling program of work for lithium and gold is being finalised.