Tivan Gains Final Approvals to Drill Walshy’s Wall Polymetallic Target
Tivan has secured all necessary regulatory and heritage clearances to launch a maiden drilling campaign at Walshy’s Wall, a promising manganese-barite gossan with high-grade fluorite and polymetallic potential in the Northern Territory.
- Final Northern Territory government and heritage approvals obtained
- Maiden drilling program to start in October with nine priority RC holes
- Walshy’s Wall features manganese grades up to 44.8% and fluorite up to 98.4% CaF2
- Elevated copper, beryllium, and tungsten suggest a broader hydrothermal system
- Second drilling stage contingent on initial results to test system scale and continuity
Regulatory Green Light for Walshy’s Wall Drilling
Tivan (ASX:TVN) has cleared the final hurdles to commence drilling at Walshy’s Wall, part of its Sandover Fluorite Project in the Northern Territory. The company received a variation to its existing environmental mining licence from the Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, alongside a Sacred Site Clearance Certificate variation from the Central Land Council, ensuring compliance with cultural heritage requirements. This regulatory and heritage clearance package enables Tivan to proceed with a maiden drilling campaign targeting a manganese-barite gossan with polymetallic signatures.
A Promising Polymetallic Gossan with High-Grade Fluorite
Discovered in late 2025 during routine field reconnaissance, Walshy’s Wall revealed manganese mineralisation as dark oxide coatings and nodules along a gossan extending over a strike length of 1 kilometre. Rock chip assays returned manganese grades up to 44.8%, with ten samples exceeding 10% Mn. Notably, the outcrop also hosts ultra high-grade fluorite, reaching 98.4% calcium fluoride (CaF2). Elevated levels of copper (up to 0.5%), beryllium (up to 50ppm), and tungsten (up to 0.12%) were detected, alongside the manganese oxide mineral hollandite, hinting at a complex hydrothermal system and the potential for a polymetallic deposit.
Two-Stage Reverse Circulation Drilling Program
The upcoming drilling program is designed in two stages. Stage One will focus on nine priority reverse circulation (RC) holes targeting the strongest geochemical anomalies along the gossan to test for mineralisation at depth and gather geological data. Stage Two, contingent on Stage One results, could involve up to 22 additional RC holes to systematically evaluate the scale, geometry, and continuity of the mineralised system. The initial drilling is scheduled to commence in October, ahead of the Northern Territory's summer heat, with Tivan’s geology team preparing for mobilisation.
Strategic Implications for Tivan’s Exploration Portfolio
Walshy’s Wall adds a compelling new target to Tivan’s Northern Territory portfolio, complementing its ongoing work at the Speewah Fluorite Project in Western Australia, where the company is advancing feasibility studies backed by significant equity and grant funding. The polymetallic potential of Walshy’s Wall, underscored by its manganese-barite-copper-beryllium-tungsten signature, could diversify Tivan’s resource base beyond fluorite. The presence of copper is particularly noteworthy as it could represent oxidised sulphide mineralisation at depth, a common hallmark of economically viable deposits.
Executive Chairman Grant Wilson expressed satisfaction with securing approvals promptly, emphasising the importance of timely drilling before seasonal weather constraints. The company’s methodical approach, starting with high-priority targets and scaling up based on results, reflects a prudent exploration strategy in a region with complex geology and significant heritage considerations.
Bottom Line?
Tivan’s imminent drilling at Walshy’s Wall could unlock a polymetallic system that broadens its exploration horizons, but initial assay results will be critical to validating this potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the Stage One drilling confirm a significant sulphide mineralisation at depth beneath the gossan?
- How might Walshy’s Wall’s polymetallic system influence Tivan’s project prioritisation and capital allocation?
- What are the potential timelines and milestones for assay results and subsequent drilling decisions?
