East Tanami Project Renehan Structure Air Core Drilling Program EL 31759 East Tanami Project NT

Abstract

This report describes the work completed and the results to date from the GEOPHYSICS AND DRILLING COLLABORATIONS PROGRAM, Round16 project, Renehan Structure Air Core Drilling Program, awarded to Asian Minerals Pty Ltd. The project, based largely upon geophysical results, largely either fully or partly funded by NTGS, set out to investigate the economic potential of a prominent magnetic feature that falls within titles held by Asian Minerals Pty Ltd on Karlantijpa North ALT in the eastern Tanami Desert. The target was to drill 50 holes to an average depth of 70m, but the achievement fell short of this with 37 holes drilled for a total of 1897m. The drilling program was terminated on 30th October 2023, with heat stress affecting the drill crew, but also widespread bushfire activity, followed by the onset of build up storms. Turnaround of sample results has been slow, and results are only available for the first six holes, where 391 samples were analysed for low level gold and PGM, as well as extensive multielement scans after mixed acid digest using both ICP-OES and MS. Further assays are still awaited and will contribute significantly to our understanding of the potential of the structure for mineralisation of manganese and base metals, as well as other elements which have responded strongly in the first batch. In addition, heavy mineral concentrates from 63 composite samples of drill chips were prepared and examined for diamond indicators and other heavy minerals. There were no diamond indicator minerals in these samples, but the other heavy mineral information was valuable to our exploration project, including the widespread presence of manganese minerals of probable hydrothermal origin, and widespread occurrence of the potassium silicate mineral, celadonite. A range of other elements also returned high values, with Se and Te being highly anomalous. Additionally, 31 samples were sent for petrographic examination, which provided detailed descriptions of the hostrocks of the structure as well as the events that have affected them since formation. It is expected that these samples will generate further study and hopefully lead to a clear understanding of the origin and significance of the Renehan Structure, as well as the potential for mineralisation in this part of the Tomkinson Province. Asian Minerals thanks NTGS and Grants NT for their generous contribution to permit execution of this study and their patience in awaiting the outcome.