Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX:STK) has struck copper mineralisation associated with an extensive sulphide-rich system while drilling at its Doolgunna Project in Western Australia.
The second diamond hole drilled at the project intersected interbedded black shales and siltstones from 140 to 408 metres with increasing pyrite/pyrrhotite at depth, including trace chalcopyrite from 380 metres.
Importantly, the sulphide zone is parallel to the bedding and confirms that a copper target is present, as interpreted from surface geochemistry.
Exploration activities to be accelerated
Strickland executive chairman Andy Viner said: “The presence of copper-bearing sulphides in a previously thought barren sequence within the Bryah Basin, vindicates the Board’s decision to secure an Option to acquire exploration licence E52/3495 earlier in the year.
“The company is looking forward to accelerating exploration activities in early 2021 with a view to further proving the base metal potential within the Licence.”
Next steps
The company has completed the first-ever drill testing of this project area and has been successful in discovering a large sulphide system that includes a copper-rich zone within it.
Several work programs are to be completed over the next two months, including a downhole electromagnetic survey to vector into where the sulphide zones are the strongest to provide a better definition of the next drill targets.
This work is anticipated to be completed in mid-January after geophysical contractors complete a survey and provide the data for post-processing and interpretation.
Samples submitted for analysis
The sampling of drill core from the second hole will be completed in Perth over the coming weeks, and samples submitted for analysis and all assay results are expected to be received by the end of January 2021.
Strickland and its geological consultants will be completing detailed reviews of the drill core geology, in particular alteration and mineralisation, in conjunction with the interpretations from the downhole electromagnetic survey to better define the next steps as part of the ongoing exploration program.