BlackEarth Minerals NL (ASX:BEM)’s recently completed diamond drilling program has confirmed the presence of a high-grade zone at Razafy Northwest, which is close to the Maniry Graphite Project’s Razafy resource in southern Madagascar.
The company is encouraged by the initial results from the drill program, which reinforce the significance of high-grade graphitic mineralisation identified from previous exploration.
They also point to the potential that exists for further high-grade discoveries within the Maniry Graphite Project area.
Broad, high-grade results
The ASX-listed graphite developer has received assay results from the first 10 diamond drill holes of the campaign, which comprises a total of 21 drill holes for 974 metres drilled.
High-grade graphite was intersected over wide intervals in line with previous trenching results with best intersections of:
- 29.7 metres at 17.6% total graphitic carbon (TGC) from 5 metres, including 15.3 metres at 25.2%;
- 16.1 metres at 16.2% TGC from 3 metres, including 11 metres at 18.6%;
- 10.7 metres at 15.8% TGC from 22 metres; and
- 5.1 metres at 18.9% TGC from 22 metres.
“Into high-grade category”
BlackEarth managing director Tom Revy said: “The board is very pleased with these results as it places our project into the high-grade category of global graphite developers.
“The graphite industry is heavily differentiated by (potential) revenue stream which in turn is driven by both grade and proven quality/high-value product(s). BlackEarth ticks both boxes.”
Key outcomes
The key outcomes of the drilling to date include the discovery at Razafy Northwest of the thick, outcropping, high-grade horizons hosted by felsic gneissic rocks, similar to that encountered at the nearby Razafy resource.
The company has also detected early signs that indicate continuity of horizons that may exist through the Razafy Northwest zone and further assay results are expected to confirm this finding.
Initial grades received within the horizons are consistent from hole to hole and from section to section while previous and ongoing surface sampling (trenching) has proven to be an accurate guide as to the expected TGC grades in the sub-surface.
Assays awaited
Three remaining batches of samples are outstanding, two are with Intertek Perth with the final lot due to arrive next week from Madagascar.
Further assay results are subject to laboratory scheduling and will be released to the market when received over the coming weeks.
These will include the graphitic intercepts not yet assayed from the first 10 holes in the southern part of the deposit.