Alien Metals (UFO) said it is “extremely encouraged” by the initial findings of its inaugural drilling program at the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.
This inaugural program is designed to test some of the historic drilling undertaken over 20 years ago for quality control (QA/QC) purposes, but also to test the Company’s belief that the historical silver ore body forms part of a much larger and widespread mineralised system.
The global minerals exploration and development company said ‘multiple occurrences’ of visible silver have been identified in the drill core which were recovered from shallow drilling.
Figure 1: Location of Elizabeth Hill Silver Project, Western Australia
(Source: Alien Metal Resources)
Additionally, visible copper mineralisation was identified as well as significant sulphides in core and associated with copper and nickel mineralisation.
The drilling has so far confirmed Alien’s geological interpretation that the original Elizabeth Hill silver deposit appears to be associated with a much larger polymetallic mineralised system, the Company noted.
‘Indications from the portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) imply some very high-grade silver readings with current maximum of 21,800 g/t silver (700 Oz/t Ag), 5% copper, 1.1 % Nickel as well as highly anomalous Cu, Ni and Zn readings over consistent interceptions,’ it explained.
Figure 2: Abundant sulphide in veins, clasts and disseminated throughout the core, EHDD004, 87m, Elizabeth Hill, September 2021
(Source: Alien Metal Resources)
Alien said the fact that the mineralised envelope at Elizabeth Hill is ‘clearly larger’ than modelled by previous explorers was 'encouraging' with this initial drilling demonstrating complex pervasive multi phase mineralisation evident in the wider envelope tested to date.
From visual inspection of the core there appears to be some significant mineralisation outside of the historic silver ore body which was what Alien believed to be the case following the recent detailed data review. Today, the Company said logging and core-cutting has commenced with the first batch of samples due to be dispatched to Perth ‘in the coming days.’
Figure 3: Planned drilling with historic assays view from the west, Elizabeth Hill
(Source: Alien Metal Resources)
Due to difficult ground conditions and complex geology, the Company explained to shareholders that the ongoing diamond drilling program is currently behind schedule as the focus has been on excellent core recovery and the expected drilling rate has been affected.
Going forward, the Company outlined that it intends to amend its drillholes and adapt the drilling method to better suit the ground and the effectiveness of the overall program.
Alien said it plans to complete this in ‘a more timely and cost effective manner’ to enable ‘excellent information’ to be gathered from the RC and diamond core drill samples generated.
The Company outlined that its revised plan may even enable the Company to drill extra holes within the original budget parameters in and around the orebody to further increase its geological and grade knowledge of the orebody and the surrounding mineralisation.
Based on this potential switch to RC drilling a follow up RC program is also now in final stages of planning to take advantage of having the drill rig already on site and working, it explained.
Bill Brodie Good, CEO & Technical Director of Alien Metals, commented: “As we have previously mentioned, the West Pilbara is recognised as a world class mineral province with the potential to discover significant new deposits of nickel, copper, silver and PGMs.
We believe the historic Elizabeth Hill silver mine, located between two major intrusive units, is one of the most prospective targets in the region for a possible volcanic massive sulphide type system along with the PGM potential already identified in the reefs in the tenement and surrounds . While it’s early days, we are extremely encouraged by these initial findings and will continue to refine the drilling program to maximise its effectiveness and results.”
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In recent weeks, Alien said it has undertaken preparations to optimise the Phase 3 drilling programme on the Hancock Iron Ore Project which is anticipated to be completed in 4Q21.
The Phase 2 drilling identified ‘clearly defined significant widths of direct shipping ore (DSO) from surface’ at the Sirius Extension Prospect and the Western Ridges Prospect with all intersections from the Sirius Extension Project pointing to a contiguous DSO grade deposit.
The results will be included in the maiden resource estimation work and mining studies that Alien recently started. Initial results from these programmes are expected later this month.
To date, significant intersections from the Western Ridges Prospect include, inter alia, 10m @ 58.37% of iron, 10m @ 60.20% of iron, 11m @ 59.46% of iron and 10m @ 60.32% of iron.
“We are now confident that the current drill spacing is sufficient to enable the delineation of a maiden JORC resource to be calculated for the Sirius Extension Prospect,” said the firm.
Alien said the “excellent results” confirm its initial pXRF readings and that it is “excited to push ahead with a third drilling program to in-fill existing DSO grade intersections, mainly on ridge C and E, to potentially enable a second DSO grade resource to be calculated.
In addition, Alien recently announced the execution of a conditional Share Sale Agreement which increased its effective interest in the Hamersley Iron Ore Direct Shipping Ore Project.
With Alien having acquired a more meaningful stake in the Hamersley project (from 51% interest to over 90%) in addition to the continued high price of iron ore and high demand Alien said it expects to drive Hamersley forward while continuing to deal with the necessary paperwork for maiden drilling on the highly prospective Brockman Licence further west.
Iron ore prices have risen to record highs with expectations building that benchmark prices could get to $200 a tonne which would beat the $194 hit more than a decade ago. As a result of the solid prices, Alien Metals believes its iron ore projects will deliver significant value.
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