Babbler Prospect Shows Kilometre-Scale Gold Anomaly; Drilling Planned
Tennant Minerals has identified two significant gold-copper targets at its Barkly Project near Tennant Creek, reviving interest in historical anomalies with new geochemical and gravity data. The company plans wide spaced drilling to test these promising prospects.
- Discovery of two large-scale gold-copper targets at Barkly Project
- Historical drilling reveals widespread gold anomalism over a kilometre scale
- Babbler Gold Prospect shows potential for a large gold system in felsic volcanic rocks
- Wedge Copper-Gold Prospect confirmed with anomalous copper, iron, and bismuth soil samples
- Plans underway for wide spaced RC drilling and a scoping study for Bluebird development
Historical Data Meets Modern Exploration
Tennant Minerals Limited has breathed new life into its Barkly Project, located east of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, by identifying two large-scale, high-priority gold-copper targets. These targets, the Babbler Gold Prospect and the Wedge Copper-Gold Prospect, were initially flagged in the 1970s but have remained largely unexplored until now.
The Babbler Gold Prospect, situated just 7km south-southeast of the company’s high-grade Bluebird Copper-Gold Project, stands out due to its potential kilometre-scale gold anomaly. Historical drilling from the 1970s, including diamond tails and percussion holes, revealed widespread gold anomalism in pyrite and chlorite-altered rhyolites, with gold intercepts spread over 500 meters apart. Notably, some drillholes reported gold grades up to 0.68 grams per tonne over 7 meters, alongside anomalous copper intervals.
Geological Context and New Insights
The geological setting of Babbler is compelling. The prospect lies within volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Paleo-Proterozoic Ooradidgee Group, near the contact with the Warramunga Group, which hosts most known copper-gold mines in the Tennant Creek mineral field. Recent research by the Northern Territory Geological Survey suggests the possibility of volcanogenic massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits in this region, adding weight to the prospectivity of the area.
Meanwhile, the Wedge Copper-Gold Prospect, located 5km southwest of Bluebird, has been confirmed through recent soil sampling and gravity surveys. This prospect features a fault-bounded block of Warramunga Group rocks with visible ironstone and gossan development. Anomalies in copper, iron, and bismuth detected in soil and rock chip samples reinforce its potential as a copper-gold target.
Next Steps and Strategic Collaboration
Tennant Minerals plans to undertake wide spaced reverse circulation (RC) drilling to test these targets, aiming to delineate the extent of mineralisation and identify zones of higher-grade mineralisation. The company is also progressing a scoping study for the Bluebird project, exploring the development of a shared copper-gold processing facility in the region through a strategic alliance with other local companies.
CEO Vincent Algar highlighted the significance of revisiting these historical targets with modern understanding and technology. He noted that the combination of elevated gold values in altered felsic volcanics, proximity to the high-grade Bluebird system, and new geological insights substantially increase the prospectivity of the Babbler area.
While the historical data provides a strong foundation, the true scale and economic viability of these targets remain to be confirmed through upcoming drilling campaigns. The company’s methodical approach, combining geophysical surveys with targeted drilling, aims to unlock the potential of these underexplored prospects.
Bottom Line?
Tennant Minerals’ renewed focus on Barkly’s historical anomalies could reshape its exploration narrative; next drilling results will be pivotal.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming RC drilling confirm the extent and grade continuity of the Babbler gold anomaly?
- How might the new geological framework influence exploration strategies across the Barkly Project?
- What impact will the strategic alliance and shared processing facility have on project economics and timelines?
