Elementos Ltd (ASX:ELT, OTC:ELTLF) has confirmed significant fluorite (CaF2 , also known as fluorspar) mineralisation at its Cleveland Tin Project in Tasmania, in follow-up assays from hole C2119, drilled as part of its 2022 diamond drilling program, and mineralogical results during metallurgical test work.
Fluorite, which wasn’t initially part of the suite of minerals the company was looking for, is listed as a critical mineral by the USA, Canada, Japan, China and the European Union.
Mineral of interest
The ‘significant’ fluorite levels at Cleveland’s tin-copper resource were first confirmed during an optical mineralogy study conducted by ALS laboratories, in conjunction with McKnight Mineralogy, last year.
The study involved the preparation of polished thin sections and scanning by QXRD analysis, and found that fluorite comprised 8.7% of the assessed sample.
Initial assays were conducted for the standard project elements of tin, copper, tungsten, molybdenum and bismuth.
Fluorine, which was only identified as a mineral of interest during the mineralogy program, requires a separate method of analysis – alkali fusion.
Once the analysis was conducted at the ALS facility in Vancouver, Canada, significant fluorite (CaF2) results were achieved.
Highlights
The follow-up assays confirmed fluorite mineralisation in tungsten and tin-copper mineralisation zones throughout the project, including:
- 89.85 metres @ 5.44% CaF2 from 205.3 metres, including; 14.2 metres @ 0.36% WO3 @ 10.2% CaF2 from 221 metres - Tungsten Zone (Upper Foleys Zone); and
- 3.85 metres @ 1.05% tin, 0.28% copper and 5.36% CaF2 from 64.25 metres - Tin-Copper Zone (Battery Lode).
Elementos managing director Joe David said: “The confirmation of two broad zones of significant fluorite mineralisation intersected at our Cleveland Tin Project is additonal confirmation that we sit on a very special asset here in Tasmania.
“The historical tin mine is one which is clearly highly mineralised and just starting to show its potential as a source of other critical minerals.
Addition to the critical mineral suite
“While the project has mineral resource estimates published for tin, copper and tungsten; the potential for additional minerals such as fluorite, to add to the mineral suite for the project, is just beginning to be assessed and understood.
“The company will continue to progress its understanding of the fluorite mineralisation event through further in our field and laboratory programs, in addition to desktop reviews of historical papers and mining reports from previous mining operations.
“It is also important to note that tungsten has been identified as a critical mineral by the Australian Government, with tungsten, fluorite and tin having been identified as critical minerals by a number of Australia’s strategic partners (inlcuding the USA, UK and the EU).”
A downhole and ground-based geophysics program is planned for the second half of 2023 to further define extensions and targets at the Cleveland project in Tasmania.