Trek Metals’ maiden drilling at Kuro returns multiple high-grade manganese intercepts including a standout 10m at 42.3% Mn, validating an extensive near-surface system with promising low penalty elements.
- Maiden RC drilling yields 10m at 42.3% Mn from 13m depth
- 15 of 21 holes exceed 5% Mn cut-off, confirming widespread mineralisation
- Low iron and phosphorus levels suggest potential for high-quality manganese product
- Induced Polarisation surveys effective in detecting concealed mineralisation
- Further assay results and drilling planned to expand resource definition
First Drill Assays Confirm Significant High-Grade Manganese Discovery
Trek Metals Limited (ASX:TKM) has delivered a compelling initial strike at its Kuro manganese prospect within the Christmas Creek Project, Western Australia. The maiden Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program has returned multiple high-grade manganese intercepts, including a standout 10 metres at 42.3% Mn from just 13 metres downhole in hole 26XCRC020. This confirms an extensive, near-surface manganese system that could underpin a significant new resource.
The first batch of assays from 21 holes shows 15 intersecting manganese above a 5% cut-off, with 10 holes exceeding 20% Mn. Notably, hole 26XCRC007 returned 4 metres at 44.6% Mn from surface, while other intervals include 11 metres at 24.0% Mn and 13 metres at 19.9% Mn. The mineralisation remains shallow, with all significant intercepts occurring within 37 metres of surface, trending deeper from northwest to southeast.
Low Penalty Elements Highlight Product Potential
Early geochemical analysis suggests the manganese mineralisation at Kuro has low levels of penalty elements, a crucial factor for marketability. Samples grading 20% Mn or higher average just 2.7% iron and 0.04% phosphorus, yielding a manganese-to-iron ratio of 13:1, which improves to 47:1 in the highest-grade intercept. Phosphorus remains low across most samples, while silica, the main diluent, decreases as manganese grade rises.
While no metallurgical or product characterisation testwork has yet been conducted, these geochemical indicators are encouraging for the potential production of a clean manganese concentrate. The peak assay of 54.4% Mn from 16 metres downhole further demonstrates the presence of high-grade mineralisation at depth, not just at surface.
Induced Polarisation Survey Validates Targeting Method
The company’s use of Gradient Array Induced Polarisation (GAIP) geophysical surveying has proven pivotal in targeting concealed manganese mineralisation beneath shallow sand cover. This technique has successfully identified high-priority zones within the interpreted basin, guiding the drilling program and expanding the potential footprint of the discovery.
Ongoing GAIP surveys are extending coverage northeast of the current drill area, aiming to delineate further targets within the approximately 16-kilometre prospective Neoproterozoic basin. This approach is critical given much of the mineralisation lies undercover with no surface expression.
Next Steps: Continued Drilling and Regional Exploration
Trek Metals is advancing earthmoving activities at Kuro and the nearby Coogan copper-gold target ahead of further drilling. The RC rig remains active testing regional targets, with additional assay results expected progressively over the next 3-5 weeks from the remaining Phase 1 drilling.
Complementary geophysical surveys, including Sub-Audio Magnetic (SAM) over the Martin gold prospect and a regional airborne magnetic-radiometric survey, are scheduled to commence shortly. These efforts aim to build a steady pipeline of exploration results across the Christmas Creek Project.
CEO Derek Marshall emphasised the significance of the laboratory confirmation of high-grade manganese below surface, noting it as a major milestone that bolsters confidence in the discovery’s scale and quality. He highlighted the large interpreted basin yet to be explored and the ongoing work to identify new drill targets, signalling a busy and potentially transformative period ahead for Trek Metals.
Bottom Line?
Trek Metals’ initial assays at Kuro validate a high-grade manganese system with promising geochemistry and effective geophysical targeting, setting the stage for expanded drilling and resource definition.
Questions in the middle?
- Will ongoing drilling confirm the lateral and depth continuity needed for a resource estimate?
- How will metallurgical testing influence the commercial viability of the Kuro manganese mineralisation?
- Can Induced Polarisation surveys continue to uncover significant concealed manganese targets within the broader basin?