In total, 15 reverse circulation drill holes were completed at Cobalt Ridge and three holes at the Iron Mountain target, for 2086 metres.
The results include:
- 16 metres at 0.65% cobalt from 135 metres, including 6 metres at 1.48% cobalt;
- 37 metres at 0.14% cobalt from surface, including 2 metres at 0.36% cobalt and 1.37% copper.
The drilling has validated Corazon’s assessment of Cobalt Ridge as a unique, high-grade cobalt-dominant deposit with a potential to deliver discrete high-grade zones of cobalt.
The main cobalt lode has been drilled over a strike of about 200 metres, to a depth of 140 metres below surface.
The mineralisation is open to the west, where it is coincident with soil geochemical anomalism and small-scale historical workings targeting copper mineralisation.
The demand for cobalt is growing due to its requirement for use in lithium-ion batteries and the emerging rechargeable battery sector.
At the current cobalt metal price of around US$30,000 per tonne, the grades intersected at Cobalt Ridge represent a potentially valuable opportunity.
The metallurgical performance test work on the reverse circulation drill chips is currently underway, with results expected in Q1, 2017.
An additional three holes have been extended with core drilling to intersect the main zone. Assay results for this work is expected in early 2017.