Oar Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) (ASX:OAR) (FRA:F1S) is highly encouraged by initial test results on samples from the Gibraltar Project in South Australia’s halloysite-kaolin hotspot of the Eyre Peninsula that have defined a large zone of bright and ultra-bright white kaolinite.
The brightness and XRF analysis of samples has revealed a large zone of bright-white, low iron kaolinite extending over an area approximately 2.5 x 5.0 kilometres defined by a +70 ISO-B cut-off with halloysite assay results pending.
Within this zone are multiple areas with grades above 75 ISO-B brightness, with a peak grade of >80 ISO-B bright-white kaolin.
The results remain open to the west, an area which is interpreted to be underlain by more granite basement.
“Very encouraging”
OAR’s general manager - geology Tony Greenaway said: “The confirmation of the granite basement material in our reconnaissance drilling, together with the significant zone of bright-white, low iron kaolin is very encouraging.
“We are currently planning additional systematic drilling over this area, and further to the west, where our results remain open.”
Two drilling campaigns were completed comprising 2,129 metres of shallow drilling in 65 holes of wide-spaced grid pattern drilling to the north of the initial target area and a reconnaissance program of 2,284 metres in 74 holes to the southwest.
Bright-white results
The reconnaissance drilling was designed to test for favourable granite basement and has identified the large zone.
Results include:
- 5 metres at 80.0 ISO-B from 17 metres;
- 10 metres at 77.6 ISO-B from 13 metres;
- 8 metres at 75.2 ISO-B from 13 metres;
- 14 metres at 76.2 ISO-B from 14 metres; and
- 9 metres at 74.6 ISO-B from 20 metres.
Interpreted basement geology map with all aircore drill collars and kaolin ISO-B Brightness value contours and selected intersections.
Similar to Mt Hope
The identified granite basement material in this area is similar to and interpreted to be part of the same granite complex underlying Andromeda Metals Ltd’s (ASX:ADN) Mt Hope Kaolin Deposit further to the south.
Drilling to the north of the company’s previous drilling, which confirmed the presence of high-grade halloysite mineralisation (20%) within a blanket of saprolitic clays, has also outlined additional zones for bright-white, low iron kaolin.
A total of 127 composite samples have been selected based on brightness values and submitted for detailed XRD analysis to determine kaolinite and halloysite content.
“Toward initial resource estimate”
Greenaway said: “With the laboratory back up and running at its original capacity, our turnaround time for the detailed XRD analysis for halloysite will return to the nominal four weeks.
“We have prioritised these samples with the laboratory so that we can finalise our next phase of aircore drilling which will be designed to define the extents of this new zone and enable us to move toward generating an initial resource estimate for the Gibraltar Project.”
Oar Resources anticipates that results from the recently submitted samples will be received later this month.
Next work phases
The next phases of work being planned by the company include a program of systematic drilling on a nominal 200-metre spaced grid over this newly defined area of bright and ultra-bright white kaolin.
This program will also look to extend drill coverage further to the west where the current results remain open.
All of this drilling can be completed within the scope of the existing drilling permits.
Results from this will be used to construct detailed geological models and may enable the company to undertake an initial resource estimate should they continue to show the same high bright and ultra-bright white kaolin.