Electric Metals (USA) Limited (TSX-V:EML) (EML) has revealed positive first assay results from its inaugural drill program at the high-grade Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota.
The first two holes drilled intersected intervals of more than 30 metres (m) of high-grade manganese oxides (MnO) plus iron mineralization with average manganese content of more than 17% Mn (22% MnO). Each hole also included zones with manganese grades exceeding 40% Mn (51.6% MnO).
Drilling highlights from the two diamond drill holes include:
- 32.1 metres of 17.67% Mn from 106m including 4.3m of 44.47% Mn from 110.6m
- 34.9 metres of 21.19% Mn from 59.9m including 6.1m of 43.42% Mn from 66.0m
- 13 of the intercepts assayed above 40% Mn (51.6% MnO)
In a statement, Gary Lewis, EML Group CEO commented: "Our team is encouraged by the high-grade and thick intersections of the first two drill holes which have both intersected prominent +40% manganese intervals. These are world-class intercepts, of the like not seen outside of Southern Africa.
"Both holes are located in the eastern portion of the West Ruth Lake area of US Steel's 1959 study. Our drilling is re-testing the eastern portion of the historic resource area and will step-out towards the west to cover much of the US Steel study area.
"Electric Metals has secured the prospective lands into a coherent package, and we are now able to fully evaluate the extent of the deposit. We look forward to reporting further assay results as they come to hand."
The company's initial drilling program was designed to test and confirm historic drilling by US Steel, Pickands Mather and others from the 1930s and in particular, US Steel's 1959 designed ‘West Ruth Lake Mine' which targeted 24,012,200 tons of ore @ 15.29% Mn and 23.38% Fe (iron).
EML, operating under its wholly owned Minnesotan subsidiary, North Star Manganese, plans to drill approximately 30 holes in the current drill program and is anticipating completion of this stage of work in late summer 2023.
All of the 2023 drill information will be added into the Emily Manganese geologic model which will then form the basis for an updated resource estimate, which will be completed by the end of the year.
The company said Colorado-based Forte Dynamics Inc has been appointed to undertake the updated NI 43-101 Technical Report, Resource Estimate, with an initial site visit scheduled for later this month.
EML's Emily Project is located in the Cuyuna Iron Range of central Minnesota, an area with a rich mining history and support from established local infrastructure, a skilled mining workforce and abundant power and gas.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com