Early Sulphide Intersections at Mt Clere Raise Questions on Deposit Scale
Zinc of Ireland NL’s maiden drilling at Mt Clere has intersected sulphide zones consistent with SEDEX-style mineralisation, highlighting promising base metal potential at the Robin 21 anomaly. Two diamond drill holes totaling over 1,100 metres reveal encouraging geological signatures ahead of detailed assays.
- Two diamond drill holes completed, totaling 1,139.9 metres
- Chalcopyrite and broad sulphide haloes intersected in prospective stratigraphy
- Portable XRF geochemical data supports SEDEX-style mineralisation model
- Follow-up assays, petrology, and geophysics planned for Q3 2025
- Application for Exploration Incentive Scheme funding underway
Maiden Drilling Campaign at Mt Clere
Zinc of Ireland NL (ASX, ZMI) has announced the completion of its inaugural drilling program at the Mt Clere Project in Western Australia, targeting the Robin 21 geophysical anomaly. The company drilled two diamond holes totaling 1,139.9 metres, marking a significant step in exploring this previously untested 1-kilometre-wide magnetic and gravity anomaly.
Encouraging Sulphide Intersections
The drilling intersected sulphide-bearing zones within and adjacent to dolerite bodies and carbonaceous metasediments of the Proterozoic Ullawarra Formation. Visual logging and portable XRF (pXRF) field screening detected chalcopyrite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite, with sulphide haloes extending over broad intervals exceeding 50 metres. These observations align with Zinc of Ireland’s geological model for SEDEX-style mineralisation, a sediment-hosted base metal deposit type known for significant zinc and copper resources.
Geophysical and Geological Context
Robin 21 sits within the Edmund Basin, adjacent to the Mt Clere Fault, an area with proven copper and base metal mineralisation. The anomaly’s coincident magnetic and gravity signatures resemble those of world-class SEDEX and IOCG systems such as Sullivan and Ernest Henry. Historical drilling by BHP in the 1990s was limited and did not reach the target depth, leaving this anomaly largely unexplored until now.
Next Steps and Exploration Incentive Scheme Application
Zinc of Ireland plans to return the drill core to Perth for detailed logging and laboratory assays, with results expected in the third quarter of 2025. Further work will include petrology, scanning electron microscopy, and potentially downhole geophysics. The company is also preparing an application for the upcoming Exploration Incentive Scheme to support follow-up drilling and geophysical surveys, aiming to delineate the extent and grade of mineralisation.
Chairman’s Perspective
Non-Executive Chairman Peter Huljich expressed optimism about the initial results, noting the successful testing of multiple geophysical models and the encouraging extent of sulphide mineralisation. He emphasized that these first holes into a large, previously untested anomaly provide a strong foundation for the next phase of exploration.
Bottom Line?
As Zinc of Ireland advances its Mt Clere exploration, forthcoming assay results will be pivotal in defining the project’s true potential.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the laboratory assay results reveal about the grade and economic viability of the sulphide zones?
- How extensive is the sulphide mineralisation beyond the initial drill holes at Robin 21?
- Will the Exploration Incentive Scheme funding accelerate follow-up drilling and geophysical surveys?