Tempest Minerals Ltd (ASX:TEM) (TEM) has confirmed the abundant presence of copper and other metals from a Down Hole Electromagnetic (DHEM) survey at the Orion target within its Meleya project in Western Australia, with the results helping to prioritise near-term drilling campaigns across the belt.
Significantly, assays have also identified zinc-sulphide mineralisation or sphalerite, which the explorer said is notoriously difficult to identify in early-stage projects.
Horizons of more than 200 metres in geological thickness with isolated greater enrichment were observed such as 18.9 metres at 362.2 parts per million (ppm) zinc) from 852.1 metres in WARDH72 including 1-metre at 1,710 ppm zinc from 852.1 metres.
In hole WARDH73, the same stratigraphic or structural position has been intercepted with 21.58 metres at 247.3 ppm zinc from 476.9 metres, including 2 metres at 1,118 ppm zinc.
Continuity of mineralisation suggests that the interpreted 300-metre-long zinc zone likely extends well beyond the constraints of the drilled holes.
Follow-up targeted drilling across the stratigraphic horizon will be prioritised to confirm the potential for sphalerite within the immediate vicinity of the down hole survey.
DHEM Survey - section view with primary field direction, drill holes, geology and model plates (red).
Multi-element intercepts
Highlights from WARDH72 include:
- 4.3 metres at 512.3 ppm nickel from 93.5 metres;
- 0.9 metres at 428 ppm copper + 0.39 g/t silver and 0.008 g/t gold from 186.5 metres;
- 14 metres at 305.7 ppm copper + 277.1 ppm zinc and 0.19 g/t silver from 426 metres including 1-metre at 1,290 ppm copper + 411 ppm zinc and 0.84 g/t silver from 431 metres;
- 21.58 metres at 277.1 ppm zinc + 0.07 g/t silver from 476.9 metres including 2 metres at 1,118 ppm zinc + 0.31 g/t silver from 485 metres; and
- 1-metre at 545 ppm zinc + 247 ppm copper and 0.16 g/t silver from 523 metres.
- 0.5 metres at 940 ppm copper from 290.5 metres;
- 1.1 metres at 818 ppm copper and 0.11 g/t silver from 476.1 metres;
- 9.7 metres at 274.9 ppm nickel from 659.0 metres;
- 18.9 metres at 362.2 ppm zinc + 87.9 ppm lead and 0.1 g/t silver from 852.1 metres including 4 metres at 928 ppm zinc + 220.5 ppm lead and 0.18 g/t silver from 858 metres including 1-metre at 1,710 ppm zinc + 430.5 ppm lead and 0.19 g/t silver from 860 metres;
- 0.4 metres at 588 ppm molybdenum and 107 ppm copper from 945.6 metres; and
- 4.5 metres at 0.40 g/t silver from 981 metres.
Remaining assays for the project have also been received, with thick highly anomalous zones identified, elevating the prospectivity of the 50-kilometre-long Meleya Belt, one of the few unexplored greenstone packages in Australia and hence, very early in its exploration evolution.
WARDH72 and WARDH73 are the only two drill holes completed to date. Most comparable-sized belts have hundreds or thousands of drill holes.
Next steps
Tempest will conduct several strategic regional programs including:
- Further geophysical surveys.
- Petrographic analyses in progress.
- Ongoing geochemical sampling.
- Project-wide drilling programs
- Upcoming reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Clover target commencing soon after Master.
- Upcoming large-scale aircore program in final stages of preparation.
- Further target RC and diamond drilling in planning.
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