Mayview Prospect Yields Up to 52.3% Antimony and Significant Gold Grades

Context and Significance

Critical Resources Limited (ASX:CRR) has released detailed petrographic analysis results from its Mayview Prospect, situated in the highly prospective New England Fold Belt of New South Wales. The study confirms the presence of a structurally controlled hydrothermal mineralising system characterized by widespread quartz veining and brecciation, hallmarks of shallow mesothermal to epithermal environments. This geological setting is significant as it mirrors the mineralisation style of the nearby Hillgrove deposit, Australia's largest known antimony-gold system.

The Mayview Prospect lies approximately 2.7 kilometres east of Hillgrove, positioning it strategically within the Halls Peak Project area. The petrographic findings, combined with previously announced exceptional assay results, underscore the prospect’s potential to host substantial antimony and gold mineralisation.

Petrographic and Assay Highlights

The petrographic work, conducted on eight rock samples by Paul Ashley Petrographic and Geological Services, revealed extensive quartz-sulphide veining and hydrothermal brecciation within low-grade metamorphosed sedimentary host rocks. Notably, multiple samples contained remnant stibnite (antimony sulphide), although much has been altered to supergene antimony oxides such as cervantite and senarmontite. This supergene overprint is consistent with surface expressions observed at Hillgrove, suggesting the potential for preserved primary sulphides at depth.

Complementing these petrographic observations, recent assays from December 2024 reported high-grade antimony values, including a standout 52.3% Sb in sample MVS17 and several others exceeding 30% Sb. Gold grades were also notable, with samples like MVS11 returning 2.71 g/t Au alongside 15.35% Sb. These grades reinforce the prospect's potential as a Hillgrove-style orogenic Sb-Au system.

Structural Controls and Mineralisation Style

Thin section analyses highlighted complex vein networks with intersecting quartz veins and hydrothermal breccia zones, indicative of repeated fluid influx and mineral deposition. The textures observed, inequigranular to prismatic quartz, comb textures, and crystal-lined voids, are typical of mineralisation formed at shallow mesothermal to epithermal depths.

Samples such as MVP14 and MVP16 preserved coarse-grained stibnite vein infill, closely resembling the mineralogy and textures of the Hillgrove deposit. The presence of arsenopyrite and pyrite alongside stibnite in some samples further suggests that deeper, unoxidized sulphide zones may exist, offering targets for future drilling.

Next Steps and Exploration Outlook

Critical Resources plans to advance exploration at Mayview with a comprehensive program including geochemical sampling, structural mapping, trenching, and reinterpretation of existing heliborne VTEM and magnetic surveys. The company intends to engage specialist geophysicists to refine structural models and identify extensions of mineralised zones, particularly at the Amoco target within the Halls Peak Project.

Following data compilation and review, a maiden drilling campaign will be designed to test the most prospective targets. Director Nigel Broomham expressed optimism, stating that the results position Mayview as an exciting exploration prospect with significant antimony and gold potential.

Strategic Implications

The Mayview Prospect’s proximity to the Hillgrove mine and its geological similarities suggest it could represent a continuation or satellite of one of Australia’s premier antimony-gold systems. Given the critical role of antimony in emerging technologies and decarbonisation efforts, these findings could position Critical Resources favorably within the critical minerals sector.