AuKing Mining Ltd (ASX:AKN) has discovered a “pivotal” zinc-copper mineralised system in drilling at the Emull prospect of the Koongie Park Copper-Zinc Project in Western Australia, consistent with historical results from Northern Star Resources’ exploration efforts on the tenure.
The company completed 1,094 metres over eight reverse circulation (RC) holes, revealing a near-surface sulphide deposit with highlight results of:
- 89 metres at 0.36% copper, 1.18% zinc and 9g/t silver from 61 metres;
- 25 metres at 0.46% copper, 1.55% zinc and 8g/t silver from 34 metres; and
- 86 metres at 0.33% copper, 0.09% zinc and 2g/t silver from 53 metres.
The system at Emull remains open at depth and along strike, with notable magnetic features to the northwest and southwest of the main mineralised zone.
“Strong potential” for open pit mining
Auking chief executive officer Paul Williams said the discovery represented a “pivotal” change in the company’s proposed mining development strategy at Koongie Park, which hosts a JORC-compliant mineral resource of 8.9 million tonnes.
“Strong potential now exists for a shallow, bulk tonnage, open-pit operation to be established at Emull,” Williams said.
“Mineralisation extents at Emull have not been defined and appear to be strongly correlated with a magnetic high in the immediate vicinity.
“Even more encouragingly, along a 1.5-kilometre strike of defined mineralisation, the magnetic high continues to the north-west and is essentially untested by historic drilling.
“Repeat structures of 1.7 kilometres and 2 kilometres, respectively, are also possibly present to the south-west of the existing Emull deposit.”
Williams said further drilling was now planned at Emull before the end of 2022, and the company intends to produce a maiden resource estimate for the prospect in the near future.