Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX:RTR) has intersected significant zones of zinc-lead sulphides from drilling at the western extension of the Earaheedy project's Chinook zinc-lead deposit in Western Australia, expanding the growth potential of the project.
Multiple drill holes from reverse circulation (RC) drilling returned significant sphalerite, galena and pyrite mineralisation, indicating potential higher grade zones.
Drilling commenced in late July, with the aim of extending the 5-by-2-kilometre Chinook zinc-lead-silver-copper sulphide mineralisation envelope to the west.
The initial RC drilling stage is focused on assessing approximately 1,500 metres of untested highly prospective strike. Thirty-six RC holes have been completed to date on a 200-by-100-metre drill pattern.
Sieved sulphide chips from interval 56-62 metres.
Identical mineralisation style
All drill holes have intersected the unconformity-related zinc-lead mineralisation identified through portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and visual inspection, hosted in the Navajoh Unconformity Unit and the top of the underlying Navajoh Dolomite.
The sulphide mineralisation style is identical to the Main Chinook Zone, which previously reported intersections including 24 metres at 5.57% zinc+lead from 66 metres (EHRC050) and 17 metres at 5.21% zinc+lead from 103 metres (EHRC061).
Samples have been sent to a commercial laboratory for more quantitative geochemical analysis, with results expected over the coming months.
RC drilling is ongoing with the Sweetwater Trend potentially hosting over 15 kilometres of interpreted mineralised unconformity units.
Location of Sweetwater RC drilling completed to date.
AGG survey
Rumble has recently completed an airborne gravity gradiometry (AGG) survey on 250 metre-line spacing, over an area of approximately 400 square kilometres, to generate potential targets with higher-grade domains within the extensive mineralised envelopes.
Final processing and results are pending. However, preliminary processing has highlighted a strong association with gravity lows and zones of significant base metal mineralisation, which will be the focus for upcoming drilling.
Ongoing geological and structural interpretation suggests several factors may reflect the gravity low areas, including replacement of carbonates with silica alteration, less indurated basement and laterally extensive collapse breccias overlying feeder zones.