St George Mining Ltd (ASX:SGQ) has confirmed high-grade zinc and lead mineralisation along with silver in its first-ever drill program at the Ajana Project in Western Australia.
The company’s reverse circulation (RC) drilling delivered multiple near-surface intersections at Perseverant Prospect, including:
- 5 metres at 1.23% zinc + lead and 7.2 g/t silver from 57 metres, including 1 metre at 2.06 % zinc + lead and 3.66 g/t silver from 61 metres;
- 1 metre at 4.22% zinc + lead and 1.1 g/t silver from 95 metres;
- 1 metre at 1.83% zinc + lead and 1.34 g/t silver from 99 metres.
Moving forward, these highly encouraging RC drill results warranted follow-up with diamond drilling to provide further information on the structural setting and nature of the mineralisation.
“Blind discovery”
SGC executive chairman John Prineas said: “The exciting initial drilling results at Ajana are located in a previously unexplored area, beneath shallow overburden.
“It is a blind discovery – a credit to our technical team and their use of modern geophysics and other exploration technologies.
“Our corporate strategy includes identifying high-leverage greenfields opportunities in stable jurisdictions and it is very pleasing to see this strategy deliver immediate success at Ajana.
“It is early days but the signs are there that this discovery could evolve and result in the definition of significant mineralisation.”
Map of the Ajana priority exploration licences with airborne magnetics data acquired by St George set against regional magnetics.
Drill program
St George’s maiden drill program at Ajana comprised 12 RC holes with immediate follow-up by completion of a further four diamond holes.
Out of the 12 holes, eight intersected either high-grade or anomalous zinc and lead mineralisation using a cutoff of 0.5% zinc + lead.
The drilling at Perseverant was designed to target the source of several magnetic features interpreted to be part of a large mafic intrusive complex which could be prospective for nickel-copper-PGEs.
The potential remains for the modelled source of the magnetics to be below the current depth of drilling and is a high-priority target for future drilling.
Forward plan
Work programs are underway or being planned including:
- Detailed airborne magnetic survey of northern tenement E70/6142 is in progress, to identify additional prospective magnetic targets.
- Completion of heritage assessment to provide drill rig access to the Catalina Prospect.
- Assays for diamond drill holes are pending and expected in 4 to 6 weeks.
- Petrology and mineralogical assessment of drill samples is underway to determine the nature of mineralisation.
- Review of drill assays and assessment of pathfinder elements is in progress to assist ongoing drill targeting.
- Follow-up drill program is scheduled for Q4 2023.
- Continued landholder engagement to maintain access to the ground for exploration activities.