The rods continue to spin for Oar Resources at the Gibraltar halloysite-kaolin discovery in South Australia with assay results now eagerly awaited from drilling to the north of the original discovery that netted high-grade halloysite with grades of up to 20 per cent in grade. Infill drilling has now commenced and regional exploration is set to follow and the granting of the Crown tenement in Western Australia is also imminent.
Last year Oar completed a maiden drilling campaign at Gibraltar consisting of 59 holes for around 2,044 metres designed around a single halloysite occurrence identified from historical reports. The drilling was completed on a 100m by 100m grid pattern around the historic drill hole, widening out to 200m by 200m to the south. Further to the south again, another two scout lines of drilling were completed.
Kaolinite was detected in all holes sampled with stand-out hits including 3m going an eye-catching 19.6 per cent halloysite and 42.4 per cent kaolinite from 26m depth, 3m at 10.1 per cent halloysite and 45.9 per cent kaolinite from just 11m, together with 13m at 5.3 per cent halloysite and 80.9 per cent kaolinite from 13m in another hole.
The company has now completed a follow-up exploration drilling program some 3.5km directly to the north of last year’s campaign and initial observations appear to bode well for Oar.
1,400m were drilled on a 400m by 400m grid pattern with the company reporting good white kaolinitic saprolite in the southern portion of the grid along strike from last year’s successful maiden campaign.
One hole appears to have intersected 10m of light-white kaolinitic saprolite from a depth of 23m according to the company.
Whilst assay results will no doubt be eagerly awaited for release to market anticipated to be in May, Oar has wasted no time in following up on the latest drilling campaign with the commencement of a targeted in-fill campaign.
Some 20 holes for 700m will be drilled on a 200m by 200m grid pattern to better define the material observed from logging of the drill cuttings.
Oar has also received formal approvals for reconnaissance drilling across the broader project tenure and drilling will follow the newly commenced in-fill program. The company will look to identify areas of granite basement that are favourable for the development of kaolinite clays.
Meanwhile in WA, Oar has turned one eye to the Crown tenement located in the Julimar District, some 45km out of Perth. The company believes the granting of Crown is imminent as it looks to begin reconnaissance exploration works in the current quarter.
Detailed mapping and sampling of outcrops is on the cards, with systematic geochemical sampling to pin-point drill targets set to follow.
Crown is prospective for nickel, copper, platinum group elements and gold and lies only 9km from the heralded Gonneville discovery made by ASX-listed Chalice Mining which saw that company’s share price soar from under 20 cents per share in March last year to well over $6 today.
From little things, big things grow and Oar’s halloysite discovery at Gibraltar is already looking the goods. With assays due just around the corner and drilling continuing to accelerate, a news-riddled few months beckon for this ASX-listed company as it looks to become the next West Australian explorer to make its mark in a rising junior exploration market.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Matt Birney
