Pantoro Ltd (ASX:PNR) continues to field strong platinum group element (PGE), nickel and cobalt assays from step-out drilling at Lamboo Nickel-PGE Prospect, 5 kilometres south of the Nicolson’s Gold Mine in WA’s Kimberley Region.
New PGE (3E) results from the recent step-out drilling include:
- 11 metres at 1.11 g/t platinum, palladium and gold (3E) from 120 metres including 3 metres at 2.17 g/t 3E;
- 5 metres at 1.91 g/t 3E from 190 metres including 2 metres at 3.71 g/t 3E;
- 5 metres at 1.37 g/t 3E from 36 metres including 2 metres at 2.42 g/t 3E;
- 6 metres at 1.22 g/t 3E from 1 metre; and
- 23 metres at 0.92 g/t 3E from surface.
Rhodium and iridium
Alongside these high-grade finds, the company has identified significant coincident rhodium and iridium grades in the northern extensions of the platinum, palladium and gold zones drilled to date.
The company has previously confirmed significant rhodium and iridium in northern parts of the west limb of Lamboo.
Rhodium and iridium are high-value elements, currently priced at around A$21,400 per ounce and A$6,900 per ounce respectively.
Needless to say, Pantoro will continue to explore for rhodium and iridium as the program continues in the northern zone and other step-out areas within the system.
A further 14 holes drilled in the northern zones await the return of rhodium and iridium analysis.
Drilling at Lamboo continues to extend mineralisation north and south of previously drilled areas, and all areas drilled to date remain open in all directions.
“Exciting development”
Managing director Paul Cmrlec said: “The latest drilling at Lamboo continues to indicate a very large system with all targets drilled in the prospective zone to date returning strong zones of PGE, nickel and cobalt intersections.
“The identification of significant rhodium and iridium in the northern zones of the prospect is an exciting development. Drilling is ongoing at Lamboo with a large number of assays yet to be returned.”
Platinum group elements
Pantoro continues to advance its evaluation of the basal portion of the folded Lamboo ultramafic complex.
Initial step-out drilling in 2022 has focused on the west limb where wide PGE intersections were reported in January and March.
Based on results returned to date, drilling has extended the northern portion by 700 metres and the southern portion by 250 metres. Mineralisation remains open along strike to the north and south.
Mineralised PGE intervals include a number of narrower higher-grade zones as well as broad zones of nickel and cobalt mineralisation.
As part of the ongoing evaluation of the system, five holes were submitted to assess for other PGEs, including rhodium, iridium and ruthenium within PGE-rich zones, using fire assay with nickel sulphide collection.
Nickel and cobalt
Significant widths and grades of near-surface nickel and cobalt have also been identified as part of the current step-out drilling in the northern area of the west limb.
The nickel and cobalt mineralisation has been observed over wide intervals and does not necessarily correlate to the PGE mineralisation as it has in previous drilling to the south.
New results include:
- 19 metres at 0.61% nickel and 0.099% cobalt from surface;
- 25 metres at 0.70% nickel and 0.044% cobalt from surface;
- 20 metres at 0.46% nickel and 0.018% cobalt from surface; and
- 41 metres at 0.56% nickel and 0.052% cobalt from surface.
Forward program
Pantoro has drilled a total of 12,500 metres in the current program with drilling ongoing and several results still outstanding. Outstanding holes include northern extensions and growth drilling in the Edison area.
The company plans to continue drilling over the coming months ahead of the next wet season.
At present drilling rates, the company expects to cover a further 7,500 metres during the September 2022 quarter, with a focus on the identification of mineralisation over a wide area of the prospective basal contact.