65 Holes Confirm Up to 1.84% WO3 and 6.30% Cu at Hatches Creek
Tungsten Mining NL has reported significant high-grade tungsten and copper mineralisation from its recent drilling campaign at the Hatches Creek Project, setting the stage for a maiden Mineral Resource estimate in the March quarter.
- 65 reverse circulation drill holes completed, totaling 6,803 metres
- High-grade tungsten intersections up to 1.84% WO3 and copper up to 6.30% Cu
- Continuity of mineralisation confirmed at multiple prospects including Hit or Miss and Treasure
- Three distinct mineralisation styles identified at Green Diamond prospect
- Maiden Mineral Resource estimate planned for release in Q1 2025
Exploration Success at Hatches Creek
Tungsten Mining NL (ASX: TGN) has delivered a compelling update from its Hatches Creek Project in the Northern Territory, revealing significant tungsten and copper mineralisation across multiple prospects. The company completed an extensive reverse circulation (RC) drilling program comprising 65 holes and 6,803 metres between August and October 2024, targeting extensions and continuity of mineralisation previously identified by GWR Group Limited.
The drilling campaign confirmed high-grade tungsten intersections, including narrow zones with grades as high as 1.84% WO3 and copper grades reaching 6.30% Cu. These results were recorded across key prospects such as Hit or Miss, Treasure, Green Diamond, Black Diamond, and Bonanza, underscoring the project's robust mineral potential.
Key Prospects and Mineralisation Styles
At Hit or Miss, extensional drilling confirmed continuity of tungsten mineralisation over a strike length extending from 320 to 600 metres. Noteworthy intersections include 17 metres at 0.43% WO3 and 5 metres at 0.94% WO3, reinforcing the prospect's high-grade potential. Similarly, Treasure's infill drilling validated mineralisation continuity over 350 metres, with standout intercepts such as 5 metres at 2.05% WO3 and 7 metres at 1.39% WO3.
The Green Diamond prospect revealed a complex mineralisation system with three distinct styles: narrow high-grade zones hosted by sediments, broad low to medium-grade tungsten-copper zones associated with the Pedlar Gabbro/sediment contact, and a singular high-grade copper intersection. This diversity suggests multiple mineralising events and offers a rich target for further exploration.
Black Diamond and Bonanza prospects also demonstrated encouraging mineralisation continuity and grades, with mineralised structures open along strike and at depth. Soil geochemistry sampling further highlighted extensive tungsten-copper-molybdenum-bismuth anomalies, indicating excellent potential for discovering additional mineralised zones.
Pathway to Resource Definition and Development
The company is progressing towards a maiden Mineral Resource estimate for Hatches Creek, anticipated in the March quarter of 2025. This milestone will be critical in advancing the project towards development, supported by ongoing metallurgical testwork that confirms the amenability of the ore to gravity, magnetic, and ore sorting processes.
Chairman Gary Lyons expressed optimism about the drilling results, emphasizing their role in enhancing the project's value and development prospects. The comprehensive data collection and rigorous QAQC protocols underpin the reliability of the results, positioning Tungsten Mining well within the competitive tungsten market.
Bottom Line?
With a maiden resource estimate imminent, Tungsten Mining’s Hatches Creek project is poised to sharpen its profile as a significant tungsten and copper asset.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the maiden Mineral Resource estimate reveal about the overall scale and grade of the Hatches Creek deposits?
- How will the identified multiple mineralisation styles at Green Diamond influence future exploration and development strategies?
- What are the next steps for Tungsten Mining in advancing metallurgical testwork and feasibility studies post-resource estimation?
