Native Mineral Resources Holdings Limited (ASX: NMR) diamond drilling programme at the Maneater Hill Polymetallic Sulfide Prospect in North Queensland has revealed further intercepts of polymetallic (Fe-Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag) sulphide-bearing breccias as well as a heavily altered (phyllic) felsic intrusive.
Managing Director, Blake Cannavo, said this is further positive news for the company as it drills towards the deeper target core of the target. NMR is completing a 700m-deep (planned EOH) diamond drill hole into the core of the polymetallic sulphide-bearing breccia pipe referred to as Maneater Hill or Maneater Peak (exploration permit EPM28038).
“NMR is delighted to report that drilling has intersected an altered intrusion – a key signature of other significant breccia deposits in this region,” Mr Cannavo said.
“This is significant as it helps support a magmatic origin for the mineralised system at Maneater Hill.
As drilling continues, additional zones of brecciation containing massive sulphides with zinc-, copper- and lead-bearing sulfides adds to the excitement surrounding this target. We are not yet at target depth, but these initial outcomes are highly encouraging.
“We look forward to ongoing updates and delivering the first batch of assays as quickly as possible.”
Current drilling is at 360m down-hole depth at the time of writing. The edge of the breccia was intercepted at approximately 200m down hole and was approximately co-incident with the intersection of the altered felsic intrusive (interpreted at this early stage as a fine-grained quartz porphyry).
The intercept of further massive, semi-massive and disseminated sulphides and altered, pyrite-bearing intrusion is an exciting development. The intrusion is an important part of the breccia story as they typically form a part of the mineralising system and therefore represent a key ingredient for breccia pipe-types deposits in other parts of Queensland.
The altered intrusion is also strong evidence in support of the interpretation that the breccia is a magmatic-related hydrothermal system, which also helps account for the pervasive alteration throughout the rocks drilled to date.
Ongoing visual observation of the drill core are continuing to confirm that the sulfide intersections are predominantly pyrite together with other key mineral phases including locally abundant sphalerite (zinc-sulphide), chalcopyrite (copper-sulfide), galena (lead-sulphide), stibnite (antimony sulphide) and are present.
In addition, sphalerite and pyrite are also present in quartz-carbonate veining in the surrounding low-grade metasedimentary country rocks. The drill core has also revealed heavily altered metasediments of the Hodgkinson Province with quartz-carbonate veining. Current drilling MPD002 is oriented towards approximately 285 (magnetic) and dipping at 77 degrees with the aim of intersecting the deeper portions of the breccia.
