Exploration Risks Loom as East Renison Permitting and Drilling Await Key Milestones
Stellar Resources advances exploration at its East Renison Project near Tasmania’s Renison Tin Mine, backed by a $55,000 government drilling grant targeting high-grade polymetallic zones.
- East Renison Project covers a 3x3 km mineralised zone adjacent to Renison Tin Mine
- Historical rock chips show high grades of tin, antimony, silver, gold, and base metals
- Tasmanian Government awards $55,000 co-funding grant for drilling at Carbine Hill target
- Exploration includes airborne EM anomalies and geochemical surface sampling
- East Renison complements Stellar’s Heemskirk Tin Project aiming for top global tin production
Strategic Location and Historical Riches
Stellar Resources Limited (ASX – SRZ) has provided a detailed update on its East Renison Project, a promising exploration area that directly adjoins the operating Renison Tin Mine, Australia’s largest tin producer. The project spans a substantial 35 square kilometres and is geologically significant due to its position along the Federal-Bassett and Montezuma Faults, key conduits for mineral-rich hydrothermal fluids responsible for the district’s mineralisation.
Historical rock chip sampling across this 3 km by 3 km zone reveals impressive polymetallic grades, including tin concentrations up to 2.24%, antimony as high as 15.5%, and silver reaching 7,751 grams per tonne. These results underscore the potential for a sizeable and valuable mineral deposit, with additional metals such as gold, copper, bismuth, zinc, and lead also present in noteworthy quantities.
Government Support Accelerates Exploration
In a significant boost, Stellar has secured a $55,000 co-funding grant from the Tasmanian Government’s Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative (EDGI) to support drilling at the Carbine Hill East target within the East Renison Project. This target is highlighted by coincident airborne electromagnetic (EM) anomalies and surface geochemical anomalies, including rock chip samples with up to 6.1% antimony and 3,370 grams per tonne silver.
The planned diamond drilling, targeting a 250-metre hole, aims to test vein-hosted tin-polymetallic mineralisation, with logistical preparations underway for drilling during the upcoming summer season. This government-backed funding not only reduces exploration risk but also signals confidence in the project’s potential from local authorities.
Complementing a Broader Tin Strategy
Stellar’s Managing Director, Simon Taylor, emphasised the strategic importance of East Renison in the company’s broader vision. Situated less than 10 kilometres from the Rosebery Base Metal Mine and adjacent to Renison, East Renison offers a compelling opportunity to expand Stellar’s footprint in Tasmania’s prolific mineral belt.
The project complements Stellar’s flagship Heemskirk Tin Project, which already boasts one of Australia’s highest-grade undeveloped tin resources. Together, these projects position Stellar to potentially become a top 10 global tin producer, although the company cautions that this remains an aspirational goal.
Ongoing Work and Future Prospects
Beyond drilling, Stellar is actively compiling historical data and planning reconnaissance programs including soil sampling and geological mapping to refine exploration targets. The Ringville exploration licence, part of the East Renison Project, is currently undergoing environmental and public permitting processes before grant.
Geophysical modelling indicates complex structural geology above the Pine Hill Granite, a known source of granite-derived tin mineralisation, further enhancing the prospectivity of the area. The company’s methodical approach, combining historical data with modern geophysical techniques and government support, sets a strong foundation for potential resource expansion.
Bottom Line?
With government backing and compelling historical data, Stellar’s East Renison Project is poised to unlock new tin and critical mineral resources in Tasmania’s mining heartland.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the initial drill results from Carbine Hill reveal about the deposit’s scale and grade?
- How will the permitting process for the Ringville licence impact exploration timelines?
- Can East Renison’s mineralisation significantly enhance Stellar’s resource base alongside Heemskirk?
