Stelar Metals Ltd (ASX:SLB) is encouraged by the outcomes of an initial reconnaissance visit to the Baratta Copper Project in northern South Australia considered prospective for sediment-hosted copper and rare earth element (REE) mineralisation.
Initial reconnaissance confirms the potential for copper, base metals and REE, with mineralisation at surface returning results up to 36% copper using portable XRF.
Baratta is one of five highly prospective battery metal projects that the critical minerals explorer has committed to aggressively explore in the world-class mining district.
Regional geological setting of the Baratta Project showing major prospects.
Stelar Metals chief executive officer Colin Skidmore said: “I returned from my initial reconnaissance trip very enthused by the potential this project offers and we have already started reviewing our exploration methodology and techniques to effectively assess, generate and prioritise targets for future drill testing.
“I remain surprised at the lack of drill testing despite the attractiveness of this geological setting supported by mineralisation at surface.
"Additionally, the recent good work by Taruga Minerals in their adjacent exploration tenure supports our view on the potential for rare earth elements on our Baratta Project which has not been considered previously.”
Area of interest
The historic Baratta Copper Mine produced high-grade copper ore between 1896 and 1904 from a zone of workings 1.5 kilometres long on the northern limb of the Bibliando Dome.
This mineralised horizon, recognised as a flat-dipping quartz-haematite gossan, extends for several kilometres into EL 6803, Stelar’s recently-granted Baratta exploration licence, by numerous shallow workings.
A sample of discarded ore in one shallow pit, comprising brecciated quartz-siderite-haematite with oxidised copper minerals recorded 36% copper and 478 g/t silver using portable XRF.
Previous explorer Panda Mining’s broad-spaced soil sampling identified multiple copper anomalies, indicating the potential for additional parallel repeats in this highly anomalous copper area.
Stelar believes that this area warrants further investigation given the extent of the copper anomalism and its position relative to the underlying geophysical bodies.
As well, historical records show that no drilling has been undertaken to test either the Baratta Mine or the along-strike extensions.
Left: View of the historical Line of Lode at Baratta. Right: Example of discarded copper ore on old working (XRF: 36% copper and 478 g/t silver).
Next steps
Stelar believes the Windowarta Diapir and its surrounding Tapley Hill sediments have the potential to host REE metals as the geological setting is similar to that of Taruga’s Morgan Creek REE project.
Stelar has recalibrated its new Niton portable XRF to include a REE suite of elements and is undertaking orientation work to devise an optimal sampling methodology to better evaluate the potential of this and other diapirs in the Flinders Ranges.
The company will initially focus on soil and rock chip sampling at Windowarta Diapir, along with geological mapping, while the geophysical reprocessing over the Baratta Copper and Bibliando Diapir target areas is being finalised to generate prioritised drill targets.
Stelar has commenced discussions with the Traditional Owners and once agreed, will commence Heritage Clearance Surveys and seek drilling approval from the South Australian regulators.
Other recorded mineral occurrences on the Baratta Project such as copper-cobalt at Lone Pine and silver at Baratta Springs will require follow-up, while on the foothill slopes of the northern part of EL 6803, Panda Mining discovered a broad lead-zinc anomaly during their initial soil sampling program in 2008 at Valley View, which will be looked into as well.
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