Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) sub-sampling of diamond core from the Coodamudgi resource at Butcherbird Manganese Project has returned high-grade manganese values of up to 42.3% from surface with low impurity levels.
This core was from diamond hole BBDD016 which was drilled into the resource.
The Coodamudgi resource is entirely within granted mining lease M52/1074 meaning that it has the potential to be integrated into the mine plan after further work is carried out, including resource drilling and metallurgy.
Potential for high product grades
Managing director Justin Brown said: “The grades achieved in the subsampling exercise at Coodamudgi are indicative of the potential to achieve a product grade in excess of the grades published in the pre-feasibility study (PFS) of 33% manganese.
“If this can be confirmed under full-scale test-work, this has the potential to be a very positive step forward.”
Methodology emulates full-scale processing
The sub-sampling methodology utilised is designed to emulate full-scale processing via the proposed beneficiation flowsheet for the project.
Work completed in this program is preliminary and will need to be followed up with further test-work to confirm these results, however, the sampling reported is strongly suggestive that this material has the potential to deliver a high-grade concentrate.
Granted mining lease M52/1074 showing resource categories and location of BBDD0016 relative to current mine plan areas.
Manganese mineralisation at Butcherbird typically comprises interlayered bands of manganese and non-manganese bearing clays and shales with the mineralisation in hole BBDD016 being geologically the same.
The manganese can be beneficiated by separating and removing the clay and shale waste and retaining the high-grade manganese material.