Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX:RTR) has released strong new assay results from its 40,000-metre drilling program at Chinook zinc-lead discovery at the Earaheedy Project, approximately 110 kilometres north of Wiluna, Western Australia.
The results are from 51 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes and two Sonic drill holes that form part of the ongoing drill scoping of the Chinook prospect.
Latest drilling has increased the zinc-lead mineralisation envelope by 44%, to 4.1 kilometres strike and 1.9 kilometres down dip length. It remains open in all directions.
There is also potential to increase the known footprint at Chinook as zinc-lead mineralisation is modelled to extend west across the boundary of tenement E69/3464 (RTR 75% JV) into Rumble’s 100% owned ELA69/3787.
There is notably more than 12 kilometres of untested strike along the prospective unconformity to the Sweetwater Zinc-Lead Prospect.
Exciting developments at Chinook
“The broad-spaced scoping drilling continues to deliver at the Chinook Zinc-Lead Prospect with an impressive 44% mineralisation envelope increase to 4.1 x 1.9 kilometres. Mineralisation remains open in all directions,” Rumble Resources managing director Shane Sikora said.
“Another exciting development at the Chinook Prospect is that significant zinc-lead mineralisation has been intercepted in numerous drill holes along the northwest corner and within 50 metres of the main tenement (E69/3464) boundary which abuts Rumble’s (100%) pending application ELA69/3787.
"Based on the location and inferred strike of the mineralisation, Rumble has modelled that the Chinook mineralisation will extend west into ELA69/3787. ELA69/3787 already hosts the Sweetwater Zinc-Lead Prospect which has historical zinc-lead drill intercepts located over 12 kilometres from Chinook, along the prospective unconformity, with no historical drilling ever completed between the two prospects.
“Based on the drilling results to date, field observations and our developing understanding of the geology of this potential Tier 1 sediment-hosted zinc-lead system, it is becoming very clear there is potential to delineate multiple shallow, flat-lying open pittable zinc-lead deposits throughout the 45 kilometres of strike at Earaheedy.”
Impressive results
While RTR has so far only delivered assays from approximately 9,000 metres of the 35,000 metres drilling completed, due to a laboratory backlog, the company believes this drill program will deliver further exciting developments.
So far, RC drill results (>2% zinc + lead cut-off) include:
- 15 metres at 4.02% zinc + lead (Zn + Pb) and 4.86 g/t silver (Ag) from 116 metres within 27 metres at 2.54% Zn + Pb from 115 metres;
- 11 metres at 3.92% Zn + Pb and 4.23 g/t Ag from 142 metres within 22 metres at 2.35% Zn + Pb from 139 metres;
- 16 metres at 3.67% Zn + Pb and 3.9 g/t Ag from 79 metres within 25 metres at 2.7% Zn + Pb from 76 metres;
- 14 metres at 4.17% Zn + Pb and 14.9 g/t Ag from 71 metres within 29 metres at 3.09% Zn + Pb from 67 metres;
- 8 metres at 5.20% Zn + Pb and 9.57 g/t Ag from 133 metres within 37 metres at 2.04% Zn + Pb from 112 metres;
- 5 metres at 4.25% Zn + Pb and 3.66 g/t Ag from 90 metres within 26 metres at 2.9% Zn + Pb from 90 metres;
- 20 metres at 3.47% Zn + Pb and 4.16 g/t Ag from 119 metres within 26 metres at 2.91% Zn + Pb from 116 metres; and
- 17 metres at 3.08% Zn + Pb and 7.74 g/t Ag from 72 metres within 47 metres at 1.88% Zn + Pb and 6.14 g/t Ag from 48 metres.
Sonic drilling is supporting RC results to date. Results include:
- 19 metres at 6.10% Zn + Pb and 8.52 g/t Ag from 55 metres in EHS002 - 19 metres recovered within a 26.5-metre zone of mineralisation; and
- 22.2 metres at 4.32% Zn + Pb and 4 g/t Ag from 67 metres in EHS001 - 22.2 metres recovered within a 28-metre zone of mineralisation.
“The Sonic Hole EHS002, a twin of EHRC044, reported a 26% increase in zinc-lead grade from previous RC assay (19 metres at 6.1% Zn + Pb and 8.52 g/t Ag from 55 metres – True Width as vertical hole). This Sonic drilling is supporting the RC drilling results to date along with providing sample volume for initial metallurgical testing,” Sikora said.
One other result of note is the broad widths of silver mineralisation intercepted southeast of the main Chinook Zn-Pb Prospect in drill hole EHRC251.
The result was:
- 21 metres at 16 g/t Ag from 88 metres within 70 metres at 6.54 g/t Ag from 55 metres.
What’s next
This is an ongoing drilling program, with quite a bit of work still to be done.
“Once the team completes the broad spaced drill scoping, drilling will focus on targeting the multiple feeder structures identified by the geophysics, which are interpreted to contain higher-grade zinc-lead mineralisation," Sikora said.
On the agenda is:
- Nearly 35,000 metres of RC drilling has been completed at Earaheedy with only 9,000 metres of RC assay results (~25%) reported due to the high levels of exploration in Western Australia and industry-wide laboratory turnaround issues;
- RC drill scoping of Chinook, Magazine and Navajoh including a 40,000-metre RC program ongoing. This is likely to expand due to an increase in mineralised footprint;
- Diamond core drilling which will target Clastic hosted zinc-lead-silver and footwall shale hosted sulphide mineralisation;
- Sonic drilling – reasonable recovery at EHS001 and EHS002 compared to diamond core drilling has given Rumble confidence to restart the Sonic drill testing. Sonic drilling of different mineralisation styles, including oxide;
- Metallurgy – diamond and sonic drilling to be used for initial metallurgical sighter programs;
- Geophysics – Airborne magnetics planned over applications;
- Analysis of gravity and passive seismic ongoing.