Emmerson Resources Ltd (ASX:ERM) is set to commence its Phase 2 diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its 100%-owned Hermitage project at Tennant Creek after returning “spectacular results” from the first phase.
Key highlights include:
➢ Minimum 1,700 metres program to include extension of the discovery hole HERC003, where new 1-metre assay results (previously 3 metres composite) have refined the intersection to 116 metres at 3.38% copper and 0.88 g/t gold that includes zones of significantly higher-grade copper and gold (from 76 metres down hole)
➢ New assay results confirm the trend of copper and gold grade increasing at depth with the hole terminating in 30 metres at 7.4% copper and 3 g/t gold including 2 metres at 19.77 g/t gold and 3.84% copper in the final 2 metres; and
➢ New 3 metres composite assay results from HERC004 drilled 60 metres to the west of HERC003 includes 6 metres at 1.11% copper (from 162 metres downhole).
“Spectacular results”
Emmerson managing director Rob Bills said: “The spectacular results returned from discovery drill hole HERC003 at Hermitage defined a very high grade, continuous zone of copper mineralisation and with the new assay results, now includes gold.
“This was one of the best copper results ever drilled in the Tennant Creek Mineral Field and is consistent with the mineralisation being associated with a hydrothermal breccia likely corresponding to the core or feeder zone of the mineralisation.
“Phase 2 drilling will test the depth extent of the breccia with a diamond drill tail extending the previous HERC003 RC drill hole.
“The remainder of the 10-drill hole program will systematically step out to test the dimensions and orientation of the breccia and host ironstone.
“The new 1-metre re-splits of the mineralised intervals in HERC003 reported today confirm our previous view that the gold and copper grades are increasing with depth, consistent with the typical metal zonation of gold below the copper seen at many of the other deposits in the Tennant Creek Mineral Field.
“This program can be extended based on the visual copper results as we have secured a universal drill rig that has the capability and capacity to drill both reverse circulation and diamond drill holes down to +500 metres."
Phase 2 drilling
The Phase 1 drilling results have greatly enhanced the ranking and potential for economic gold, copper, and cobalt mineralisation across the Northern Project Area, particularly within this northern gravity ridge.
The dimensions of the breccia and true thickness of the mineralisation at Hermitage is currently unknown and will be more effectively tested with the Phase 2 drill program.
A minimum 1,700 metres of drilling is planned from up to 10 holes, spaced to systematically step out from the core of the mineralisation.
This program can be extended based on the visual results and presence of three distinct zones of copper mineralisation.
Assay results from the full suite of pathfinder elements are still outstanding, although it appears that high-grade cobalt and bismuth occur on the periphery of the breccia complex.
Hermitage has not seen any systematic, modern exploration with the last exploration efforts ending in the 1990s.
Emmerson is deploying a number of techniques to maximise the data generated from this program, including utilising its inhouse downhole magnetic probe to define “near miss” opportunities, plus alteration, trace element and ironstone fertility studies that will assist with vectoring to the core of the mineralisation.
Edna Beryl – final results
An RC drill program at Edna Beryl was completed late in 2021 before the onset of the wet season, to test for the continuity of the high-grade gold in the shallow oxide zone between the Edna Beryl Mine and prospectors’ shaft at Edna Beryl West.
The best results from this program came from the Edna Beryl North ironstone and included 3 metres at 0.57 g/t gold and 0.18% copper from 150 metres (drill hole EBRC107).
Whilst this program has established that the shallow high-grade oxide zone does not appear to continue to Edna Beryl West, the company’s focus is back to the very high-grade intersections and mineralisation in the primary gold zone at Edna Beryl mine.
Its next program will also include evaluating the nearby prospects of Thrace (with historical intercept of 11 metres at 16.5 g/t gold and 5 metres at 1.26% copper), Macedon and Carraman, particularly considering their association with a gravity anomaly and similarities to Hermitage and Jasper Hills.
Exciting pipeline of projects for 2022
Following the conclusion of the wet season, the momentum of Emmerson’s 2022 exploration and drilling program will increase over the coming months and include:
➢ Phase 2 drilling at Hermitage;
➢ Maiden JORC resource estimate for the Mauretania, high grade, gold-oxide discovery;
➢ Continued native title negotiations to facilitate drilling of the nearby Jasper Hills copper-gold-cobalt project;
➢ Generation of new projects in the Southern Project Area (the SPA is the subject of the Exploration Earn-In and Joint Venture (EEJV) with Tennant Consolidated Mining Group (TCMG)) utilising the recent high-resolution drone geophysical survey;
➢ Drilling for extensions and updating the resource model for the Golden Forty Mine and surrounds in the Southern Project Area (part of the EEJV with TCMG); and
➢ Further geophysical drone surveys across key areas of the Northern Project Area (part of the EEJV with TCMG)