Trek Metals is gearing up for a 2,500-metre Phase 2 drilling campaign at its Kuro manganese discovery in WA, following new geophysical surveys that revealed multiple high-priority targets beyond the initial zone. The company is also advancing exploration at gold and copper-gold prospects within its Christmas Creek Project.
- Phase 2 drilling targets high-priority geophysical anomalies at Kuro
- Induced Polarisation survey expands prospective manganese basin to ~30km
- Co-funded Sub-Audio Magnetics survey underway at Martin gold prospect
- Drilling progressing at Coogan copper-gold prospect testing IP anomalies
- Laboratory assay results from Phase 1 drilling pending
Expanded Geophysical Surveys Uncover Multiple New Targets at Kuro
Trek Metals Limited (ASX:TKM) is set to deepen its exploration footprint at the Kuro manganese discovery with a planned ~2,500-metre Phase 2 drilling program. This follows a comprehensive Induced Polarisation (IP) survey that extended geophysical coverage well beyond the initial discovery area, revealing numerous new chargeability and conductivity anomalies that mirror the geophysical signature of the known mineralised zone.
The IP survey data, integrated with gravity datasets, have identified multiple high-priority targets across a now interpreted ~30-kilometre prospective basin. This expanded footprint significantly broadens the potential scale of the manganese mineralisation system, with the Phase 2 drilling designed to test these immediate extensions and assess the mineralised system's continuity and depth.
Drilling Program Progress and Heritage Collaboration
Preparatory earthworks for the Phase 2 drilling have been completed under the supervision of the Yi-Martuwarra Ngurrara Traditional Owners, reflecting Trek’s strong community and heritage engagement. The company has also coordinated with pastoral operators to secure timely access for drilling activities.
Drilling will employ Reverse Circulation (RC) methods focused on the heritage-cleared zones, aiming to delineate the scale and quality of manganese mineralisation. Laboratory assays from the initial Phase 1 drilling are in progress, with results expected progressively over the coming weeks. Visual logging from Phase 1 has already confirmed manganese mineralisation in a majority of holes, though the company cautions that visual estimates are no substitute for laboratory assays.
Broader Regional Exploration Advances at Christmas Creek
Beyond Kuro, Trek is advancing exploration across its 100%-owned Christmas Creek Project in the East Kimberley region. A co-funded Sub-Audio Magnetics (SAM) survey is underway at the Martin gold prospect, aiming to pinpoint mineralised structures for future drilling.
Simultaneously, drilling is underway at the Coogan copper-gold prospect, targeting recently identified IP chargeability anomalies beneath historical sulphide-bearing drill intersections. Regional drilling programs have also tested early-stage rare earth, gold, and copper-gold soil anomalies, underscoring a multi-pronged approach to exploration within the project area.
Geophysical Techniques Validated for Targeting Concealed Mineralisation
Trek’s recent drilling has validated IP surveying as an effective tool for detecting concealed manganese mineralisation at Kuro, with a strong correlation between chargeability anomalies and visual mineralisation observed in 43 of 51 holes from the maiden program. The company is now leveraging this geophysical analogue to identify and prioritise new drill targets.
Additional geophysical work includes a Gradient Array IP survey at the Leviathan Prospect and a scheduled fixed-wing magnetic and radiometric survey designed to better define basin architecture and potentially highlight further radiometric anomalies akin to those that first identified Kuro.
These integrated geophysical datasets are critical to unlocking the full potential of the under-explored Christmas Creek Project, which hosts a diversity of mineralisation styles including structurally controlled hydrothermal manganese, intrusion-related copper-gold, and orogenic gold systems.
Bottom Line?
Trek Metals’ expanded geophysical footprint and imminent Phase 2 drilling at Kuro set the stage for a clearer picture of the manganese system’s scale, but assay results and further drilling will be crucial to confirm resource potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Phase 2 drilling confirm the lateral and depth extensions of high-grade manganese at Kuro?
- How might upcoming assay results influence the prioritisation of targets within the 30km prospective basin?
- What impact will ongoing exploration at Martin and Coogan have on the overall project valuation?