Empire Metals identifies kaolin mineralisation at Eclipse-Gindalbie
Published by Jessica Casey,
Editor
Global Mining Review,
Empire Metals Limited, an AIM-quoted resource exploration and development company, has provided an update on the reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme recently completed at the Eclipse-Gindalbie Project, located in Western Australia. A campaign consisting of nine RC drill holes for 770 m was completed in January, targeting both kaolin and high-grade gold mineralisation around the historical South Gippsland #3 mine, which to date has been underexplored.
Highlights
- Seven holes were drilled for kaolin with three reporting the following significant white kaolin intercepts:
- 23GPRC_005: 40 m at 21.12% aluminium oxide (Al2O3) from 8 – 48 m downhole.
- 23GPRC_003: 12 m at 20.87% Al2O3 from 4 – 16 m downhole.
- 23GPRC_003: 22 m at 21.47% Al2O3 from 18 – 40 m downhole.
- 23GPRC_006: 11 m at 20.8% Al2O3 from 13 – 24 m downhole.
- Kaolin is used extensively in a number of industries, including: paper, plastics, adhesives, rubber, paint, refractories, cement, bricks and ceramics, and is considered to be a desirable feedstock for the production of high-purity aluminium oxide, (alumina) which is an essential component in lithium-ion batteries.
- Of the two holes drilled for gold mineralisation, one reported the following significant intercepts:
- 23GPRC_009: 1.5 m at 5.04 g/t Au from 47 m to 48.5 m downhole.
- 23GPRC_009: 1.5 m at 1.73 g/t Au from 49.5 m to 51 m downhole.
Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, said: “Whilst our focus remains on our potential ‘Giant’ copper project at Pitfield with planning for the maiden drill programme receiving the upmost priority, these recent drill results from Gindalbie are nonetheless highly encouraging, having returned multiple significant intercepts of white kaolin from our initial targeted area, just west of the historical South Gippsland #3 mine. Further test work on the kaolin samples collected from this drill programme is required to ascertain the likely kaolin yield and brightness, two key factors in determining the quality of any potential deposit. We expect this metallurgical evaluation to commence in the next few weeks.”
“In addition to the kaolin intercepts encountered, one of the test holes adjacent to the South Gippsland #3 shaft has returned high gold values. This drill hole encountered a small stope between 48.5 m and 49.5 m where the high-grade gold vein had previously been mined. Further drilling along strike of this intercept is warranted to test the extent of this high-grade gold shoot.”
Future work
The next phase of the exploration programme will focus on the metallurgical quality of the white kaolin samples collected from this drill programme. Test work is required to ascertain the size distribution of the samples, with the clean kaolin generally reporting to the <45 micron fraction (referred to as the yield). The fine kaolin is then tested to establish a brightness factor. Brightness refers to the percentage of blue light reflected from the clay surface at a specific, effective wavelength of 457. Yield and brightness, along with the iron content, are the key factors in determining the quality of any potential deposit.
Should the white kaolin achieve acceptable levels of yield and brightness then a further drilling program, utilising air-core (AC) drill rigs over a broader target area, is warranted to delineate the extent of this white kaolin zone.
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/28022023/empire-metals-identifies-kaolin-mineralisation-at-eclipse-gindalbie/
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