Apollo Minerals Ltd (ASX:AON) has recorded the strongest mineralisation to date at Dikaki prospect with 60.2 metres at 2.4% zinc+lead from just 1.9 metres in a diamond drilling campaign within the province-scale Kroussou Zinc-Lead Project in Gabon.
The results demonstrate a significant, thick, shallow mineralisation identified in broad step-out drilling at Dikaki East which is the first-ever drilling in an untested 2.5-kilometre strike eastern area.
Notably, the 60.2-metre intersection includes a combined 29.5 metres at 3.6% zinc+lead in two closely located zones of 10.6 metres at 3.5% from 25.5 metres and 18.9 metres at 3.7% from 39.4 metres.
Looking ahead. Apollo has two diamond drill rigs active on-site targeting further step-out expansions at Dikaki with more assays expected in the coming weeks.
“Exceptional exploration potential”
Apollo Minerals executive director Neil Inwood said: “Drilling in the previously untested east portion of the Dikaki prospect has returned an impressive intercept of 60 metres of significant zinc and lead mineralisation commencing just below surface.
“This is the strongest zinc mineralised interval ever drilled at Kroussou and is extremely exciting.
“The excellent results from our ongoing drilling campaign highlight the exceptional exploration potential of the province-scale Kroussou project.
“The current drilling program is focused on expanding and further defining the mineralisation at Dikaki. The success of this program will enable future expansion of our exploration activities and footprint.
“Dikaki is just one of 18 prospects at Kroussou, all of which are highly prospective for base metal mineralisation.”
Shares have been as much as 7.6% higher intraday to $0.085.
Drilling results
Apollo has started receiving results from the 2022 drilling program with the first six diamond holes from the untested eastern extension of Dikaki.
Other strong results include:
- 3.4 metres at 4.1% zinc+lead from 17.5 metres, 2.5 metres at 4.7% from 37.1 metres and 2.8 metres at 3.4% from 43.8 metres in DKDD096;
- 2 metres at 5.4% from 30.1 metres within 4.4 metres at 3.2% in DKDD097; and
- 6.2 metres at 3.9% from 25 metres in DKDD101.
Notably, holes drilled 30 metres and 50 metres either side of DKDD094 have intersected localised zones of strong visible sulphide mineralisation with sampling and assays pending.
Additionally, drill hole DKDD101 intersected 6.2 metres at 3.9% zinc+lead from 25 metres.
This hole was part of an 800-metre step out drilling further to the east and is interpreted to have clipped the same mineralised system as intersected in hole DKDD094.
Forward plan
Apollo’s 2022 planned work program at Kroussou is ongoing and is focused on:
- Infill and extension drilling of the high-grade zones of mineralisation at Dikaki and Niamabimbou to facilitate future resource estimation studies;
- Geophysical surveys, field exploration and drilling to identify new zones of mineralisation at other defined prospects/regional targets to demonstrate the province scale potential at Kroussou;
- Metallurgical test-work to confirm positive high-recovery, high-quality sulphide concentrate production; and
- Hgh-level analysis of regional infrastructure options for materials transport
Inwood adds: “During the current quarter, we are planning to complete an airborne electromagnetic survey over the entire 80-kilometre Kroussou project strike.
“The data from this survey has the potential to highlight further shallow high-grade mineralisation similar to the zones identified by drilling at Dikaki and Niamabimbou.
“If successful the airborne electromagnetic survey, in combination with mapping, soil geochemical sampling and drilling, will assist in the definition of an Exploration Target and detailed exploration targeting.”