Battery Minerals Limited (ASX: BAT) has identified Intrusion-Related Gold (IRG) mineralization, including visible gold, in its maiden diamond drilling program at the Coxs Find Prospect within the White Rabbit District in Victoria, Australia.
Drillholes 23BATDD001 and 23BATDD002 intersected an intrusive complex hosting zones of sheeted quartz-sulphide veins and disseminated sulphides, with several features consistent with Intrusion- Related Gold (IRG) mineralization.
The potential significance of Intrusion-Related Gold Mineralization (IRG) is demonstrated by the presence of the Wonga IRG Deposit, 12km northeast and at the southern end of the ~6Moz Stawell Gold Field. Other notable IRG deposits make them an attractive exploration target (e.g Pogo: 8Moz @13.6g/t Au.
Ongoing IP geophysics over the main Coxs Find Prospect has defined robust, coincident chargeability and resistivity anomalies, defining a compelling drill target down dip from the strong surface gold anomalism up to 430g/t Au in rockchips. This target will be tested with the next drillhole in the programme.
IP geophysical data
IP geophysical data continues to demonstrate the usefulness of chargeability-resistivity datasets in mapping the distribution of sulphides and alteration in the White Rabbit District.
Fender Geophysics are conducting the survey utilizing a pole-dipole electrode configuration with electrodes spaced at 50m and 100m (dipoles) along 100m and 200m spaced lines. Approximately 1.5-line kilometres have been completed along an oblique, northeast trending local grid to best crosscut the main geological fabric and to enable efficient logistics.
The current diamond drilling activity comprises a 1300m programme designed to test priority gold targets at the Coxs Find, Frankfurt and Cosmopolitan Prospects.
Drilling results
Drillhole 23BATDD001 intersected an intrusive complex hosting zones of sheeted quartz-sulphide veins and disseminated sulphides, with several features consistent with Intrusion-Related Gold (IRG) mineralization. These features include, 1) the occurrence of molybdenite, chalcopyrite, bismuthinite within the sheeted veins 2) sheeted quartz-sulphide veins within a multiphase intrusive host.
In addition, the documentation of a Bi-Te-Mo-Sb-As ‘intrusive’ pathfinder association in surface (SEM- LA-ICPMS) and AC drilling geochemistry also supports an Intrusion-Related Gold interpretation for the White Rabbit District.
Drillhole 23BATDD002 intersected an intrusive complex hosting zones of sheeted quartz-sulphide veins and disseminated sulphides, with visible gold (pXRF verified) associated with quartz-sulphide veining at 200.1m.
The next drillhole will test the recently identified coincident resistivity and chargeability anomaly, located downdip from the strong surface gold anomalism up to 430g/t Au in rockchips at Coxs Find. Assay results are due from late-June.
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