Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX:STK) is set to restart exploration including a 5,000-metre drilling program at the Iroquois Zinc-Lead Project adjacent to Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX:RTR)’s Earaheedy Basin Project in Western Australia.
This program at the project which is 80% owned by Strickland and 20% by Gibb River Diamonds (ASX:GIB) Ltd will follow up a successful 2021 program.
The new drilling campaign will begin subject to approvals and heritage clearance, with a Native Title heritage survey to be requested for August.
Strickland then plans to undertake a further 5,000-metre program, subject to the results from the first lot of drilling.
Part of the recommencement of work at Iroquois will also include soil sampling and geophysical programs across the broader project area to locate further ‘feeder structures’ where the highest-grade zinc-lead mineralisation is likely to occur.
Determining best course of action
Strickland envisages initially completing at least 5,000 metres of RC and diamond drilling within 12 months of approvals and clearances.
Previous drilling was constrained by historic Native Title heritage clearance surveys. Drilling closer to the interpreted zone (ie drilling to the east) has not been historically possible hence further clearance surveying is required.
Due to the company’s primary focus on its flagship Millrose Gold Project, both of Strickland’s drill rigs had been allocated to the Millrose programs.
However, with the impending arrival of a third rig, Strickland is now in the position to be able to undertake ongoing targeted programs at Iroquois to follow up previous results as well as new areas of geochemical anomalism.
“The arrival of a third rig at our flagship Millrose Gold Project (located approximately 100 kilometres south of Iroquois) provides Strickland the flexibility and opportunity to undertake a series of targeted programs at Iroquois,” CEO Andrew Bray said.
“This allows us to continue advancing Iroquois while determining the best course of action for its possible future development. We will commence with a 5,000-metre program with a further 5,000 metres of drilling to be planned subject to continued positive results. Initial metallurgical test-work will also be planned.
"As part of recommencing work at Iroquois, a large soil sampling program will be undertaken. Previous work conducted by Strickland has demonstrated that elevated copper in soil is an accurate marker of the ‘feeder structure’ which controls the zinc-lead mineralisation.
“The company believes that future soil and geophysical programs will assist with locating further structures which can then be drill tested.
"Between Strickland’s discovery at Iroquois and Rumble Resources’ considerable success at the neighbouring Earaheedy Project, this is shaping up as a very exciting base metal province. Most pleasingly, Strickland controls approximately 30 kilometres of strike along the Earaheedy Basin contact.”
About Iriquois
The company delivered significant results from its maiden RC program at Iroquois in 2021 including:
- IQRC001 - 23 metres at 5.5% zinc + lead from 108 metres (combined), including 14 metres at 4.5% zinc from 108 metres (true depth 90 metres) and 9 metres at 7% zinc + lead from 135 metres (true depth 110 metres);
- IQRC003 - 12 metres at 5.4% zinc + lead from 58 metres (combined), including 6 metres at 6.2% zinc from 58 metres (true depth 50 metres) and 6 metres at 4.6% zinc + lead from 96 metres (true depth 80 metres);
- IQRC004 - 3 metres at 7.6% zinc from 65 metres within 14 metres at 2.2% zinc;
- IQRC005 - 10 metres at 3.7% zinc from 123 metres within 20 metres at 2.4% zinc; and
- IQRC010 - 8 metres at 5.2% zinc from 95 metres and 5 metres at 10.1% zinc + lead from 110 metres within 18 metres at 4.2% zinc + lead.