Thundelarra (ASX: THX) is unlocking the riches at its 90%-owned Red Bore prospect (M52/597) in Western Australia’s Doolgunna region with drilling intersecting high grades and widths of copper.
Red Bore is located just 500 metres southeast of Sandfire Resources' (ASX:SFX) DeGrussa copper/gold mine.
Notably, the first phase drilling has provided sufficient geological data to allow the form of the mineralisation occurrence to be re-evaluated as the top of a breccia pipe / feeder pipe system.
The new interpretation has also increased the prospectivity of Red Bore by opening up the possibility that it contains an intrusive-related system preserved in its entirety.
Ore grade copper was noted in four of the six holes drilled with results of:
- 5.8 metres at 6.6% copper, 2.2 grams per tonne gold, 2.5g/t silver from 12 metres in hole RB01;
- 5 metres at 5.0% copper, 0.5g/t gold, 2.9g/t silver from 20 metres in hole RB03;
- 16.8 metres at 2.2% copper from 23.1 metres including 4.5 metres at 6.5% copper, 2.3g/t gold, 7.6g/t silver from 29.1 metres in hole RB04;
- 4 metres at 9.9% copper, 0.3g/t gold, 2.1g/t silver from 12.5 metres and 5.9 metres at 6.0% copper from 54.1 metres including 0.65 metres at 36.04% copper from 57.7 metres in hole RB06
Drilling has provided a clear understanding of the geological controls that defines the next targets and confirms that high grade mineralisation extends outside existing resource envelope.
It has also identified one definite and a possible second breccia feeder pipe.
Follow-up exploration will test for source at depth.
Red Bore Exploration
The company has completed 6 holes close to the Red Bore gossan and the associated resource. It is currently drilling the deep in the north-west corner of the tenement.
Assays have demonstrated that the interpreted breccia / feeder pipe contains copper mineralisation of sufficient tenor to be considered ore grade.
Of particular relevance is that the interpreted position and orientation of the first pipe clearly indicates potential for it to extend to the southwest and to represent extensions to the existing ore resource.
In addition, the second, deeper intersection at Hole TRBDD06 could be a second pipe, or a down-faulted section of the first pipe.
Drilling to date has allowed delivered sufficient geological data to allow the form of the mineralisation occurrence to be re-evaluated as the top of a breccia pipe / feeder pipe system that offers follow-up opportunities to find a deeper-seated magmatic source.
A review of magnetic data prompted by the presence of magnetite has also resulted in the identification of two immediate targets that may also be breccia / feeder pipes.
Analysis
Thundelarra’s discovery of ore grade copper at Red Bore is value accretive and a clear sign that it is unlocking the riches present in the tenement.
That the holes appear to have intersected the top of a breccia pipe / feeder pipe system has also substantially increased its prospectivity by opening up the possibility that it contains an intrusive-related system preserved in its entirety.
This interpretation has already resulted in two further breccia / feeder pipe targets been identified from magnetic data.
Notably, this represents a different model from the traditionally accepted DeGrussa VMS.
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