New soil sampling assays have enabled Intra Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX:IEC) to define a large-scale, high-tenor gold anomaly at the Maggie Hays Hill (MHH) Project in Western Australia with gold values between 15 and 85 parts per billion.
Infill soil sampling conducted in May has defined a 700-metre-long and up to 170-metre-wide gold anomaly at the 80%-owned project which the company is planning to test in an upcoming drill program.
The sampling was conducted to follow up a broad +1.5-kilometre-long gold anomaly that occurs along the sheared contact between a basalt and ultramafic unit.
Field mapping identified quartz reefs occupying dilational jogs along the shear zone and these are strongly correlated with the elevated gold results.
Gold discovery potential
“We are rapidly advancing the Maggie Hays Hill project to drilling. The new soil results have defined a strong gold anomaly along a mineralised trend that extends another kilometre to the north," managing director Ben Dunn said.
"Coupled with the recent assay results from the central gold zone that confirmed historical trenching and drilling results (ie 2 metres at 11 g/t gold) we believe there is great potential for a gold discovery.
"The tenement also has multiple other anomalous gold targets generated from the recent soil sampling program that require follow-up.”
Other anomalies
Elsewhere in the tenement, multiple point soil anomalies with elevated gold results >20ppb require further investigation.
Most anomalies are associated with contacts between mafic and ultramafic units. Quartz outcrops are common along dilational jogs in the contacts and further exploration will focus on areas where structural flexures generate larger dilational zones.
Near the central gold zone there are multiple gold anomalies associated with contacts that extend over several hundred metres.
Pegmatite outcrops
Last month additional mapping and rock sampling at the southern end of the tenement to assist drill hole planning identified several pegmatite outcrops that appear to dip shallowly to the west.
Samples collected display elevated lithium, tantalum, niobium and caesium.
One sample contained 90 parts per million (ppm) lithium, 220ppm niobium, 65ppm tantalum and 32ppm caesium and the rock specimen contained beryl crystals. Drilling has been planned for this target.
“IEC has also identified additional lithium anomalism with rock chip sampling at the southern end of the tenement identifying outcropping pegmatites with beryl crystals and elevated lithium, niobium, tantalum, caesium and tin,” Dunn said.
"Lithium drill targets have now been defined along a 2.5-kilometre zone and we are very keen to get these drilled.
“Preparation is underway for a 2,000-metre RC drill program to test both the gold and lithium targets.
“A heritage survey scheduled for late May was slightly delayed due to heavy rain and will now occur this month. IEC expects to be able to drill in mid-July.”
Heritage survey
The MHH heritage survey has been rescheduled to mid-June due to heavy rain that closed the Norseman-Hyden Road on May 30 restricting access to the project for the survey team. Due to other heritage survey commitments, the survey could not be rebooked until the week commencing June 17.
The company expects the survey to be completed over four days and the results to be available within three weeks.
Thereafter, the company can undertake track and drill pad preparation and commence drilling in mid-July.