Iceni Gold (ASX: ICL) has discovered a large two km by one km multi-element, REE and gold soil anomaly at Hage’s Bore Western Australia.
The anomalism is coincident with a high priority geophysical target and fieldwork has identified a large potentially mineralized gossanous zone to the north of the intrusion.
The Hage’s Bore UFF+ gold soil anomaly is associated with a syenite related intrusion and coincident with a UFF+ Rare Earth Element (REE) anomaly, located three km east of the Guyer gold nugget anomaly.
The CSIRO developed the UFF+ soil sampling technique to see through transported cover and identify the anomalies hidden below.
The UFF+ soil sampling was conducted across the entire tenement package on a regular grid (nominally 100m x 400m). The soil samples were analysed for 50 elements, along with other soil properties like soil sizing, colour, conductivity and acidity, along with short wave infra-red analysis (SWIR) to identify clay mineralogy.
The UFF+ results have been reviewed and interpreted by an external consulting geochemist.
Exploratory Data Analysis identified the Total REE (Ce+La+Y) anomaly on the eastern edge of the 14 Mile Well project. Deeper geochemical analysis found it was coincident with a coherent gold and multi-element anomaly. This anomaly has been identified 3kms east of the Guyer trend. This anomaly is known as Hage’s Bore-14UF017, named after the nearby well of the same name.
The Hage’s Bore anomaly comprises three main priority areas, namely – Target 1: Au-Te-Bi (Ag-As) multi-element anomaly associated with a syenite related intrusion. Target 2: Au-Cu-Ag-Hg multi-element anomaly coincident with a high priority geophysical target. Target 3: Northerly oriented Pt-Pd (Ni) multi-element anomaly coincident with mafic outcrop.
The granodiorite hosts mafic cognate xenoliths. Multielement rock chip geochemistry will be required to confirm the classification of the intrusion but it is anticipated that it will be classified as a mafic-type granite. This is significant because mafic type granites are known to be associated with gold mineralization in the Yilgarn Craton.
The syenite phases have been cut by a stockwork quartz vein array. The veins are dominated by quartz with lesser carbonate and they display weathered boxworks after sulphides. This is significant because there is an established association between syenites and gold mineralization in the Laverton District.
At this early stage the total REE anomaly is thought to be related to the syenite associated intrusion. Other syenite and carbonatite related gold deposits in the district (for example Wallaby) also display REE anomalism.
A gossanous quartz vein breccia was discovered during field validation of the Hage anomaly area. The quartz vein displays multiple generations of brecciation. The gossanous boxworks associated with the quartz vein are interpreted to be after pyrite. Analysis of selected gossanous samples using portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) indicates anomalous values for tellurium, bismuth, antimony and barium (caution should be exercised when considering results from pXRF analysis, as pXRF results are indicative only and should not be relied upon. pXRF results are not a substitute for conventional laboratory analysis).
This metal assemblage is consistent with a syenite related mineral system.
“The coherent gold anomalism with supporting multi-elements and REE anomalism at Hage is exciting,” Technical Director David Nixon said.
“It’s another example of the UFF+ technique identifying new targets beyond Iceni’s existing key target areas. It’s an unconventional approach to use REE’s as a pathfinder for gold.
“The association with the syenite related intrusion is significant, given the established association between syenites and gold mineralisation in the Laverton District.
“Geological field work has identified a gossanous quartz vein breccia to the north of the main geochemical anomaly, which may form the surface expression of a mineralised system. More fieldwork is required to understand this developing target.”
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