Buxton Resources has reported compelling partial leach assay results from its Centurion Project drillhole CN002DD, revealing high silver concentrations alongside elevated base metals, suggesting promising nearby mineralisation.
- Silver assays up to 4.57 g/t in partial leach samples
- Elevated tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, copper, and zinc detected
- Drillhole CN002DD abandoned at 808.9m due to loose sands before reaching basement
- Geochemical dispersion anomalies indicate proximity to mineralised source
- Further petrological and heavy mineral analyses underway; MT survey planned
Exploration Breakthrough at Centurion
Buxton Resources Ltd (ASX – BUX) has released encouraging assay results from its recent drilling at the Centurion Project in Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert. The partial leach assays from drillhole CN002DD revealed silver concentrations reaching up to 4.57 grams per tonne, accompanied by elevated levels of tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), rhenium (Re), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). These findings point to the potential presence of precious and base-metal deposits in close proximity to the drill site.
Understanding the Assay Results and Their Significance
The assays were derived from a partial leach method, a chemical technique designed to detect metals transported through cover sediments by natural dispersion processes. While this method is chemically biased and not a direct substitute for full laboratory analyses, the anomalously high silver and associated metals strongly suggest a nearby mineralised source, likely within a few hundred metres. This is particularly notable given that the drillhole was abandoned at 808.9 metres due to loose sands before reaching the basement rocks, which are the expected hosts for mineralisation.
Comparisons between partial and total leach analyses indicate a clear chemical dispersion anomaly, reinforcing the prospectivity of the area. The presence of a magnetic unit intersected at around 450 metres depth, with magnetic concentrates showing elevated gold levels, adds another layer of intrigue to the geological setting.
Geological Context and Exploration Strategy
The Centurion Project is strategically located at a structural triple junction within the Canning Basin, an area known for its complex geology and potential for Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) style deposits. The project area exhibits prominent magnetic and gravity anomalies consistent with such mineralisation styles. Buxton’s drilling program aims to test these geophysical targets, and the recent results from CN002DD provide a promising geochemical signal that supports further exploration.
Buxton has established heritage agreements with local Aboriginal corporations, ensuring respectful access and ongoing collaboration. The company is advancing detailed petrological studies, micro-XRF analyses, and heavy mineral separations to better understand the source and nature of the mineralisation. Additionally, a magnetotelluric (MT) survey, co-funded by the Western Australian government, is planned to map the basement interface and refine future drill targets.
Next Steps and Market Implications
While the current results do not confirm direct mineralisation intercepts due to the hole not reaching basement, the geochemical anomalies and associated magnetic features provide a compelling case for continued exploration. The upcoming analytical results and geophysical data will be critical in guiding follow-up drilling campaigns aimed at testing the basement rocks for economic mineralisation.
Buxton’s methodical approach, combining innovative assay techniques with geophysical surveys and community engagement, positions the Centurion Project as a noteworthy exploration story to watch in the ASX mining sector.
Bottom Line?
Buxton’s latest assays at Centurion open a promising chapter, but the true mineral prize lies just out of reach; next steps will be crucial.
Questions in the middle?
- Will follow-up drilling reach basement rocks to directly test for mineralisation?
- How will the upcoming petrological and heavy mineral analyses refine the exploration model?
- What insights will the planned MT survey provide about the basement structure and mineralisation potential?