OAR Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) (FRA:F1S) continues to firm-up the halloysite-kaolin potential at its Gibraltar Halloysite-Kaolin Project on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, with the completion of the latest phase of extension aircore drilling.
Gibraltar is adjacent to Andromeda Metals Ltd’s (ASX:ADN) Mt Hope Kaolin-Halloysite Project that has attracted considerable global attention in the last 12 months.
OAR’s most recent drilling has shown good white kaolinitic saprolite development in the southern portion of the drilling grid, adjacent to and along strike from the previous phase of drilling.
The company also notes that the depth to basement/thickness of cover increases to the north.
Plans are now underway for selective infill drilling and a regional reconnaissance drilling program.
Extension aircore drilling
Drill cutting from GBAC069 showing white kaolinitic saprolite developed over gneissic basement material.
OAR Resources completed around 1,400 metres of shallow drilling in 40 holes of wide-spaced 400 x 400 metres grid pattern drilling in the latest phase of drilling.
Drilling was completed directly adjacent, to the north, of its previous drilling, which confirmed the presence of high-grade halloysite mineralisation (20%) within a blanket of saprolitic clays in late 2020.
Drill hole GBAC0692 intersected 10 metres of light-white kaolinitic saprolite from 10 metres down-hole beneath 10 metres of cover soil/calcrete, developed over micaceous granitic-gneiss basement.
Targeted infill drilling
Wet sample screening for size fraction analysis of white kaolinitic saprolite clays.
Based on this logging, selective infill drilling on a 200 x 200 metres grid pattern has started in this area, to better define this material.
A total of 20 holes for an estimated additional 700 metres will be completed.
Regional reconnaissance drilling
Approvals have also been received for a regional reconnaissance drilling program over the wider project area.
This program aims to identify areas of granite basement, which is favourable for the development of the target kaolinite clays.
Drilling will begin immediately following the current infill drilling program.
Composite samples from the early stages of the drilling have been dispatched to the laboratory for detailed test-work, with results anticipated to be returned from May 2021.
Crown Project in WA
Meanwhile, with Native Title heritage agreements executed and lodged with the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), the company is expecting the final granting of the Crown Project tenement (E70/5046), at any time.
Discussions with local private landholders in the region are ongoing, and OAR Resources expects to be in a position to begin its initial on-ground reconnaissance work shortly after the tenements are granted in the current quarter.
This work will comprise detailed outcrop mapping and sampling, followed by systematic geochemical sampling in order to identify potential drill targets.
Crown is near the Julimar polymetallic discovery of Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX:CHN).