Miramar Resources has successfully completed an auger drilling campaign at its Joy Helen prospect, extending known SEDEX-style mineralisation and identifying new structural targets within the Chain Pool project in Western Australia.
- Auger drilling expanded mineralisation strike from 300m to potential 700m
- New parallel mineralised structures identified through folding
- Assay results expected within a month, guiding next exploration steps
- Planned gravity and passive seismic surveys to refine drilling targets
- Project remains largely unexplored since 1964 air blast drilling
Auger Drilling Reveals Promising Extensions at Joy Helen
Miramar Resources Limited (ASX:M2R) has pushed the boundaries of its Chain Pool project in Western Australia, completing a rapid and cost-effective auger drilling program at the high-grade Joy Helen copper-lead-silver prospect. The campaign, which wrapped up on time and under budget, has extended the known mineralisation strike from approximately 300 metres to a potential 700 metres and uncovered new parallel structures likely caused by folding, features overlooked by previous explorers.
SEDEX Deposit Potential Strengthened by Geological Evidence
The Joy Helen prospect exhibits hallmark traits of a Sedimentary Exhalative (SEDEX) deposit, a globally significant source of lead, zinc, copper, and silver. Miramar’s Managing Director, Marion Bush, highlighted that the project hosts all the key geological ingredients for a large SEDEX system, including carbonate alteration halos and mineralisation patterns consistent with major deposits such as those in the MacArthur Basin. The presence of secondary copper without appreciable zinc aligns with zonation models seen at deposits like Mount Isa, suggesting proximity to a mineralising vent.
Assay Results and Geophysical Surveys to Guide Next Steps
Samples from the auger drilling have been dispatched to Perth laboratories, with assay results anticipated within the next three to four weeks. These results will be crucial in confirming the grade and extent of mineralisation. To complement the geochemical data, Miramar plans to undertake a ground gravity survey and a passive seismic survey. These geophysical techniques aim to map basement structures and potentially directly detect deeper lead-zinc mineralisation, setting the stage for follow-up drilling using reverse circulation or diamond rigs.
Untapped Exploration Opportunity Since 1964
The Chain Pool project has seen minimal modern exploration, with the last drilling activity dating back to shallow air blast holes in 1964. Miramar’s recent soil sampling and systematic exploration have identified previously unrecognised strike extensions and parallel mineralised zones, underscoring the project's underexplored nature and significant discovery potential. The project also sits adjacent to notable geological features such as the Durlacher Supersuite granite and the Edmund Basin, with a large magnetic and gravity anomaly suggesting a buried intrusion that could have driven mineralisation.
Broader Exploration Activity and Strategic Focus
Alongside Chain Pool, Miramar is reviewing drilling data from its Gidji JV Gold Project near Kalgoorlie, with infill drilling planned later this year. The company's ongoing efforts to streamline its portfolio and focus on high-potential WA projects reflect a strategic pivot towards unlocking value through targeted exploration. The successful auger drilling at Chain Pool builds on earlier soil sampling and geochemical work, reinforcing the project's standing as a compelling base metals exploration play.
Bottom Line?
Miramar’s Chain Pool project is shaping up as a promising SEDEX exploration target, but upcoming assay and geophysical results will be pivotal in defining its true scale and guiding the next phase of drilling.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay results confirm the expanded strike and new parallel structures as economically significant mineralisation?
- How effectively will the planned gravity and passive seismic surveys refine drill targets in a complex geological setting?
- Could Chain Pool emerge as a major SEDEX discovery given its limited historical exploration and geological parallels?