AuKing Mining Ltd (ASX:AKN) has received further copper, zinc, lead, silver and molybdenum results described as “exceptional” from the Onedin deposit at Koongie Park Project in northeast Western Australia.
The results from three diamond holes of seven holes drilled in November and December of 2021 confirm a high-grade deposit with final assays due within a week.
Near-surface gold to boot
Providing further encouragement for AuKing is the intersection of near-surface gold in one hole, AORD003, at the southern end of Onedin.
Hole AORD003 produced the strongest results of 64 metres at 0.97% copper, 1.73% zinc, 2.52% lead, 129 g/t silver, 0.38 g/t gold and 569ppm molybdenum from 19 metres including:
- 31.6 metres at 1.60% copper, 2.85% zinc, 3.77% lead, 258 g/t silver, 0.64 g/t gold and 0.10% molybdenum from 50.6 metres; and
- 5.2 metres at 3.07% copper, 0.65% zinc, 6.66% lead, 908 g/t silver, 0.87 g/t gold and 0.195% molybdenum from 74.4 metres.
Continuity highlighted
AKN chief executive officer Paul Williams said, “We are excited to report more exceptional results from the drilling undertaken at Onedin late last year.
"The results from these latest three holes highlight the continuity of high-grade copper, zinc, lead, silver and molybdenum across the Onedin deposit.
"There are even compelling near-surface assays of gold that have been intersected in hole AORD003 in the southern end of the deposit.”
Results from hole AORD001 are 106.1 metres at 0.53% copper, 2.69% zinc, 0.49% lead, 10 g/t silver and 61ppm molybdenum from 39.4 metres including:
- 33.7 metres at 0.76% copper, 0.97% zinc, 0.39% lead, 2.2 g/t silver and 106ppm molybdenum from 52.1 metres; and
- 20.3 metres at 0.79% copper, 10.17% zinc, 0.67% lead and 36.5 g/t silver from 125.2 metres.
Hole AORD002 returned 50 metres at 0.37% copper, 0.91% zinc, 0.91% lead, 1.62 g/t silver and 63ppm molybdenum from 31 metres and 4 metres at 2.61% copper, 9.08% zinc, 2.05% lead, 215.4 g/t silver and 73ppm molybdenum from 126 metres.
A total of 1,433 metres of drilling was completed with these holes, with a maximum depth of 243 metres at hole AORD006.
The latest results provide further confirmation of significant mineralisation to the south of drill hole AORD004 which reported 105.3 metres at 1.94% copper, 0.76% zinc, 0.70% lead, 55 g/t silver and 106ppm molybdenum from 46 metres.
Test-work program
After all assays from the diamond drilling program are received AuKing will begin a metallurgical test-work program for Onedin with the intention of establishing economic metal recoveries.
Stage 1 of the test-work program will be conducted in conjunction with Perth-based Simulus Laboratories and involves:
- Demonstration of economic metal recoveries;
- Comparison with conventional process treatments;
- Optimisation of reagent usage and doses;
- Initial processing kinetics; and
- Likely product options.
This program will take around 6-8 weeks to complete, allowing AuKing to report results from the Stage 1 program in late March/early April 2022.
About Koongie Park
Koongie Park is in the highly mineralised Halls Creek region and comprises 15 licences (two mining, eight exploration and five prospecting) covering an area of more than 500 square kilometres.
The asset has existing JORC 2012 resources of 6.8 million tonnes at 1.3% copper, 4.1% zinc, 0.3 g/t gold and 26 g/t silver.
In February 2021, AuKing entered into an earn-in and joint venture agreement with Anglo Australian Resources NL (ASX:AAR) providing it with the right to earn up to a 75% interest in the Koongie Park project by completing exploration expenditure of $3 million over a 3-year period.
AuKing has since completed these earn-in expenditure commitments and currently holds a 75% interest in the Koongie Park JV.