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Thundelarra hits zinc, copper and graphite at Sophie Downs

Last updated: 15:38 26 Nov 2015 AEDT, First published: 14:38 26 Nov 2015 AEDT

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New drilling at Thundelarra’s (ASX:THX) Sophie Downs prospect in Western Australia has revealed significant zinc and anomalous copper mineralisation.

One 87-metre intersection delivered 1% zinc from surface, including a high-grade interval of 3 metres at 5.1% zinc and 15 g/t silver from 56 metres.

This sample was produced from a hole that also recorded 80 metres at 1% zinc with anomalous lead and copper values, including 16 metres at 2.4% zinc, 0.1% copper and 8 g/t silver.

Another hole produced a graphitic sequence between 69 metres and 125 metres with anomalous base metal mineralisation in the lower part of the hole 

Further results in the program included:

– A graphitic sequence of 34 metres between 24 metres and 58 metres grading 3.15% total graphitic carbon (TGC)

– A thick graphitic schist of 38 metres from 22 metres with zinc mineralisation

– A graphitic layer returning 21 metres at 1.3% zinc, 0.22% copper and 4 g/t silver between 67 metres and 88 metres.

– 4 metres at 5.93% TGC in the lower part of a hole abandoned due to high water flow

A multipurpose rig, capable of both diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling, was used for the nine-hole program, which delivered a total advance of 1,366 metres.

Two diamond holes were drilled for a 407-metre advance; and seven RC holes for a 959-metre advance.


About Sophie Downs


The Sophie Downs exploration licence covers a total area of about 27 square kilometres 27 kilometres north of Halls Creek in WA’s East Kimberley region.

It contains two principal prospects – Ilmars and Little Mount Isa.

Ilmars has been the subject of a substantial amount of historical work by a number of companies.

One notable intercept by Thundelarra at this site returned 24 metres at 2.05% zinc, 0.38% copper, 0.25% lead and 11 g/t silver from 75 metres.

By comparison, Little Mount Isa has been poorly explored, with previous Thundelarra exploration producing 13 metres at 4.6% zinc from 52 metres and 12 metres at 4% zinc from 54 metres.

These results were followed up by an 8-metre intersection at 4.8% zinc from 41 metres.


Analysis

The latest drilling at Sophie Downs continues to showcase the project’s prospectivity with extensive base metal mineralisation at the Ilmars and Little Mount Isa areas.

Significantly, only limited strike lengths of the total strike length of inferred conductors identified to date have been tested by drilling.

These conductors represent the graphite targets in the project area, and as such, imply important exploration upside.

The strongest conductor, located on the southeastern part of the tenement, remains untested.

Further exploration of these areas represents potential price catalysts for Thundelarra should strong mineralisation continue to be confirmed and consolidated as a contiguous deposit.

More immediate catalysts could result from pending graphite flake size analyses of the latest drilling.

Although these tests are still in progress, macroscopic observations indicate a fine-grained size of the graphitic schist, which is not unexpected in the units closest to the Halls Creek Fault Zone.

Perhaps most importantly in considering the overall value of Thundelarra, Sophie Downs is only one project in an expansive portfolio of base, precious and strategic metal assets across WA and the Northern Territory.

This portfolio notably includes the highly prospective Red Bore multi-metal deposit in WA which was the subject of a Proactive Q&A session with Thundelarra CEO Tony Lofthouse.


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