Accelerate Resources' gravity survey reveals structural controls aligning with high-grade manganese outcrops at Woodie Woodie North, enhancing targeting for a maiden drill campaign.
- Gravity survey confirms structural control on manganese mineralisation
- High-grade outcrops cluster near structural intersections
- Integration of gravity, LiDAR, and mapping refines drill targets
- Maiden drilling planned for September 2026 pending approvals
- Existing resource estimate excludes newly surveyed trends
Gravity Survey Reveals Structural Plumbing Beneath Key Manganese Corridors
Accelerate Resources (ASX:AX8) has unveiled results from a high-resolution ground gravity survey over the Gingarrigan and El Largo corridors at its Woodie Woodie North Manganese Project in Western Australia's East Pilbara. The survey, covering a 4.5 by 2 kilometre area, delineated a network of faults and structural intersections closely associated with numerous high-grade manganese outcrops, reinforcing a fault-hosted hydrothermal mineralisation model.
CEO Luke Meter highlighted that the manganese deposits are not randomly scattered but instead align with interpreted structural features, with some of the largest outcrop clusters situated at structural intersections. This observation mirrors the geological setting of the nearby Woodie Woodie manganese camp, where hydrothermal manganese ore bodies are similarly controlled by fault systems acting as fluid pathways.
Integration of Geophysical and Geological Data Sharpens Drill Targeting
The gravity data, collected via 2,440 stations and processed by Southern Geoscience Consultants, was complemented by a high-resolution airborne LiDAR and orthophotography survey conducted by Pegasus Airborne Systems. This combination of datasets is being integrated with detailed geological mapping and sampling to build a robust structural framework for exploration.
The integrated model is significantly enhancing Accelerate’s capacity to map manganese outcrop geometry and identify priority structural corridors beneath shallow cover. These insights are critical for prioritising drill targets, particularly in zones where multiple favourable structural features converge.
Resource Base and Exploration Targets Exclude New Trends
The Woodie Woodie North Project currently hosts a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 1.2 million tonnes at 19.1% manganese, based on drilling at Barra North, Barra South, and Area 42. Notably, the newly surveyed Gingarrigan and El Largo corridors are excluded from this resource estimate but represent promising areas for expansion.
Accelerate has defined Exploration Targets ranging from 5.3 to 10.7 million tonnes at grades between 10% and 19% manganese, though these targets remain conceptual pending further drilling. The company plans to finalise drill designs for the Gingarrigan–Gingerbread area following heritage clearances and regulatory approvals, with a maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program expected to commence in September 2026.
Structural Controls Align with World-Class Manganese Camp
Published studies of the Woodie Woodie district describe high-grade manganese mineralisation as strongly controlled by faults and secondary structures acting as conduits for hydrothermal fluids. The gravity survey’s identification of similar structural patterns at Accelerate’s project provides a compelling analogue and supports the company’s exploration strategy.
Upcoming drilling will test whether the surface manganese mineralisation continues at depth along these interpreted structures, potentially unlocking significant new resources.
Bottom Line?
The gravity survey’s confirmation of structural controls sharpens Accelerate’s drill targeting, setting the stage for a pivotal maiden drilling campaign later this year.
Questions in the middle?
- Will drilling confirm the fault-hosted hydrothermal model at depth?
- How will integration of LiDAR and gravity data refine resource estimates?
- What impact will heritage and regulatory approvals have on the drilling timeline?