Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX:RTR) has begun intensive exploration of the western extension of Earaheedy project's Chinook zinc-lead deposit in Western Australia after securing heritage clearance from the Tarlka Matuwa Piarku Aboriginal Corporation for the highly prospective 100%-owned project.
Maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling to test a 6-kilometre section along the untested 15-kilometre-long Sweetwater Trend will target shallow higher-grade domains associated with mineralised feeder structures in the Navajoh Unconformity Unit.
Two historic holes drilled 12 kilometres to the west of Chinook intercepted zinc-lead mineralisation.
Rumble has submitted a heritage survey request for clearance of the remainder of the Sweetwater Trend and the 8-kilometre-long Navajoh Southeast Trend that also remains untested.
Sweetwater Trend – prospectivity map.
Iroquois clearance
Rumble has also obtained heritage clearance approval to start reconnaissance-style aircore drilling of the newly-interpreted Iroquois Dolomite unit, which has a 35-kilometre untested strike, in August.
Previous limited drilling intercepted shallow zinc-lead mineralisation along strike of Strickland Metals’ 2021 high-grade zinc discovery, which offers the potential for further near-surface discoveries in the region.
More drilling at Tonka and Chinook
Rumble has completed 26,000 metres of drilling at the Tonka and Chinook prospects, with 11,000 assays pending, and a further 24,000 metres planned for the remainder of 2022.
RC drilling has so far been focused on the Tonka Prospect targeting high-grade zinc-lead mineralisation at the newly identified east-west trending Colorado Zone.
The Tonka and Navajoh prospects sit within a large 8 by 2 kilometres northwest trending mineralised footprint that remains open in all directions.
Initial drilling at two holes returned 73 metres at 3.07% zinc + lead from 106 metres, including 13 metres at 5.38% zinc + lead from 108 metres, and 13 metres at 5.38% zinc + lead from 108 metres, among others.
Rumble has planned further extension and RC drilling along the new high-grade Colorado and Magazine zones.
Multiple mineralisation styles
The company has confirmed at least four of the five mineralisation styles for the Earaheedy project and the likelihood of significant Iroquois Dolomite hosted mineralisation below Chinook, Tonka-Navajoh and near-surface along the Iroquois Carbonate Trend is very high based on recent drilling completed by Strickland Metals.
Current drilling has outlined large laterally flat lying unconformity related zinc-lead-silver sulphide mineralisation at the Chinook, Tonka-Navajoh prospects.
Earaheedy Project - model of multiple mineralisation styles.
Upcoming activity
Tonka Navajoh Prospect
- Extension and infill RC drilling along the new high-grade Colorado Zone – planned.
- Extension and infill RC drilling along the high-grade Magazine Zone – planned.
Chinook Prospect
- RC infill and extension drilling to delineate further shallow high-grade zinc-lead mineralisation in the Kalitan Feeder Zone and within the recently interpreted east-west trending mineralised 'feeder' structures, including the Spur Zone - planned.
Sweetwater tenements
- Surface geochemical survey to define the surface expression of the host Navajoh Unconformity Unit along the Sweetwater and Navajoh Southeast trends – commenced.
- RC drilling west of Chinook to test the extension of the zinc-lead\mineralisation – commenced.
- Airborne Falcon gravity survey – planned for late July.
- Initiate reconnaissance aircore drilling along the interpreted 35-kilometre area, which could potentially host the near surface Iroquois Dolomite Member within E69/3787 – planned in August.
Metallurgy
- Sighter metallurgy studies, including flotation and preconcentration testing - ongoing.