Parkway Minerals NL (ASX:PWN) is reviewing its Lake Barlee Potash Project in Western Australia after completing a proof of concept drill program.
Paleochannels were identified but the results returned potassium levels lower than the target level.
The 9-hole program for 782 metres was designed to test the geology and collect brine samples from palaeochannels identified by passive seismic surveys undertaken across the lake.
Special Lake Walker rig used
Three of the seven passive seismic lines surveyed were tested using Ausdrill’s Lake Walker rig, which is specially modified for drilling on salt lake surfaces.
Due to deep horizons and running sands, a number of the holes failed to penetrate into the basement.
The drilling intersected two continuous sand aquifer units containing brine.
There was an upper sand aquifer around 60 metres below the lake surface that averaged about 5-metres thick, and a basal sand aquifer sitting on the paleo surface which was up to 23-metres thick.
The aquifers are confined by lake clays and sit on a weathered granite or acid volcanic basement.
In addition, drilling intersected a number of thinner sand units that are less continuous.
There were 28 separate water samples collected from the program with composite samples of the drill spoil also submitted for analysis.
The results are universally low, averaging 1619 mg/l potassium.
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At the more advanced Dandaragan Trough Project (DTP), the company is awaiting assay results from a drilling program of 1,788 metres at two prospects – Dambadgee and Dinner Hill South.
Several intersections exceeding 40-metre thicknesses of Molecap Greensands were recorded at Dambadgee.
The company’s patented K-Max® potassium extraction process is set to add value to the large greensand deposits there, according to scoping studies.
DTP has unique advantages of excellent connectivity to transport facilities, infrastructure and proximity to local and regional markets.
It is within an easy drive from Perth and is less than 200 kilometres from two major bulk export ports, Kwinana and Geraldton.
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Additionally, Parkway recently increased its stake in Davenport Resources (ASX:DAV) to about 32%.
Davenport through its German subsidiary is exploring for potash in the highly prospective South Harz region of central Germany.