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Image Resources increases target length to 12.5km at Boonanarring, up to 70% zircon

Published: 13:36 15 Sep 2011 AEST

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Image Resources (ASX: IMA) has identified that enrichments of up to 70% zircon occur at the 1.9 kilometre-long Boonanarring Measured Resource from analysis of the mineral assemblages determined by previous explorers.

Drilling is expected to commence in early October, adding near term spice to Image.

The Resource currently contains 3.1 million tonnes (Mt) at 7.2% HM containing 221,000t HM at a 2.5% cut-off and is centrally located within the 65 kilometre Gingin Scarp target area, but was not included in the Scoping Study as there was insufficient drilling completed.

Image expects with further extensions within the target zones identified outside the current resource that Boonanarring will add to the resource inventory, with potential to add significant economic value to the North Perth Project in Western Australia.

The deposit and target length has increased to 12.5 kilometres long x 400 metres wide and the zircon-rich zone is open along strike and corresponds with the highest heavy mineral grades.

At least the southern half of the extensions of the Boonanarring Measured Resource show promise for high value mineral assemblages and HM grades.

Drilling of a largely untested 2.3 kilometre strike length to the south of Boonanarring Resource is currently being permitted.

Detailed examination of the mineral assemblages determined 38% of the reported composite samples average more than 15% zircon in the HM and 31% of the reported composite samples average more than 20% zircon.

Significantly, this is above the average 10% to 13% zircon grade for the North Perth Basin.

There is also a strong north south distribution of zircon grade, with the zircon content increasing to the south, correlating with increased HM grades.

The Boonanarring zircon grade compares favourably with Image’s Cyclone Extended zircon deposit in the Eucla Basin which has an average zircon grade of 21%.

Previous explorers have not been able to fully test the extensions because of land access issues. Image has now reached an agreement to access the land to the south of the deposit. Applications for permits to drill this area are in progress.

The company is planning to drill on at least two strong magnetic zones within a 7.7 kilometre target to the north of the Boonanarring Resource.

An access agreement has been concluded with one of the landowners and negotiations are in progress with the remaining two. Subject to access, drilling is scheduled to start in early October.

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