Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) has fielded exceptionally bright kaolinite and high-grade halloysite results during confirmatory drilling at its Cloud Nine deposit, which forms part of the wholly-owned Noombenberry Halloysite-Kaolin Project in WA.
The explorer recently embarked on close-spaced drilling at the deposit after a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) hit the market in May.
Latin’s close-spaced aircore drilling program fielded thick, near-surface, ultra-high brightness kaolinite, while a geostatistical cross-drilling program was met with what the company considers “outstanding” halloysite results.
A resource infill and extension drill campaign sampling is now complete, which will provide sufficient data to increase the current inferred MRE to a JORC indicated and potentially measured classification.
In addition, early results from initial metallurgical test-work indicate improved yields may be achieved from the fine fraction of the kaolinised granite.
All in all, the latest assays bolster confidence in the Cloud Nine deposit, inspiring Latin to expedite mining studies for the broader Noombenberry asset.
Confidence to accelerate preliminary mining studies
Latin exploration manager Tony Greenaway said: “These latest results from our close-spaced drilling are exceptional. They have exceeded our expectations, in that they have shown that for this area, the thickness and brightness of the kaolinite zone and grades of the halloysite zone are far better than our inferred block model suggests.
“This finding will have a significant impact on our next phase of resource estimation as we look to upgrade our model from inferred to indicated and potentially measured in this area.
“These results have also given us the confidence to step-up the pace of our preliminary mining studies, as we move to fast-track the Cloud Nine deposit towards a potential DSO operation.”
Noombenberry resource
In May 2021, Latin unleashed its maiden resource for the Noombenberry asset.
The project is reported to contain 207 million tonnes of kaolinised granite, which includes separate domains containing 123 million tonnes of bright-white kaolinite and 84 million tonnes of kaolin/halloysite-bearing material.
The large scale of the mineral resource places Noombenberry as a globally significant halloysite project.
What’s more, with Cloud Nine remaining open in all directions, there’s scope to take the MRE to new heights.
Infill and resource definition drill holes at the Cloud Nine deposit.
Close-spaced drilling
As it hones in on Cloud Nine, Latin recently embarked on a close-spaced aircore campaign at the kaolin/halloysite deposit.
Aircore holes were drilled 50 metres apart as part of a wider infill and extension drilling campaign.
Results from this work have confirmed that both the thickness and brightness of the kaolinised granite is extremely consistent within the area tested.
A near-surface blanket — up to 28 metres thick — of ultrabright (more than 80 ISO-B), has been defined over an area approaching one square kilometre.
Of the 40 holes drilled in the Geostatistical Cross, 31 returned significant brightness values over 80 ISO-B.
Highlights include:
- 10 metres at 85.8 ISOB from 10 metres;
- 24 metres at 83.4 ISOB from 14 metres;
- 28 metres at 82.7 ISOB from 16 metres;
- 20 metres at 82.5 ISOB from 16 metres;
- 28 metres at 82.0 ISOB from 11 metres; and
- 2 metres at 82.0 ISOB from 11 metres, including 10 metres 85.5 ISO-B from 13 metres.
The geostatistical cross drill holes at Cloud Nine.
Latin has also completed X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis over the close-spaced holes, with results from the first 14 holes confirming this area also contains a blanket of high-grade halloysite material below the ultra-bright kaolinite.
In addition, multiple holes returned thick zones (more than 10 metres) of more than 20% halloysite.
Best assays include:
- 12 metres at 25% halloysite from 34 metres, including 6 metres at 36% from 34 metres;
- 12 metres at 24% from 32 metres; and
- 25 metres at 28% from 14 metres, including 10 metres at 43% from 26 metres.
These exceptional results give the company confidence to fast-track mining and other related studies, focused on an initial simple direct shipping ore (DSO) operation for the ultrabright white kaolinite material.
The studies will include:
- Detailed metallurgical test-work (currently underway);
- Mine design and scheduling;
- Environmental and other approvals;
- Shipping and logistics;
- Capital and operating cost modelling; and
- Project execution plans, along with other related workstreams.
Test-work program
As a part of its mineral resource infill drilling program, Latin collected two separate metallurgical bulk samples for preliminary test-work.
Specialist consultants, working with Nagrom Metallurgical Laboratories in Perth, are well advanced on this work, which is aimed at determining the most suitable unit operations to extract an on-grade kaolin/halloysite concentrate.
Early results from size by assay and attritioning tests have shown that a significantly improved yield can be achieved in the fine fractions, with work now optimising the unit operations to further increase the recovery of the kaolin/halloysite concentrate.
The final process flowsheet will provide detailed mineralogical and metallurgical inputs for pre-feasibility studies and potential DSO product.
Metallurgical test-work is currently underway.
In parallel with the test-work campaign, the ASX-lister has been undertaking an extensive sampling program across both the mineral resource infill and extension drill campaigns.
This is designed to provide enough data to increase the current inferred MRE to a JORC indicated and potentially measured classification.
Samples from the Noombenberry project.