The rods have started spinning for ASX-listed Tambourah Metals at its namesake gold project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The reverse circulation campaign will drill 2,000 metres over 19 holes in two high priority areas and will test extensions of known and historical gold mineralisation.
The campaign’s priority zone includes the Kushmattie prospect and extends north and south along the full length of the tenement package and includes most of the historic workings. New interpretations by Tambourah extend the prospective zone 4.1km to the south below the historical workings.
The explorer will be hoping to have its eye in by the time it starts drilling the Kushmattie prospect as it hosts the historical strike of eight metres going 13 grams per tonne gold contained within a larger intercept of 10m running 10.6 g/t gold from 35m downhole.
The second priority zone includes the Federal line of workings and consists of six discrete north to south orientated zones over prospective magnetic responses. The explorer believes the magnetically responsive Federal Mine workings warrant a venture as it reportedly remains untouched since 1898 when it reportedly produced 15.25 ounces of gold from 11 tonnes of ore.
The project is located 85 kilometres southwest of Marble Bar in a region that once flourished with gold seeking hopefuls. The district has a rich history of gold production with the Tambourah and Western Shaw mining centres being mined for the precious yellow metal around the turn of the 20th century.
Remarkably, the bulk of the historical production came from Western Chief and World’s Fair mines within the company’s ground. The reported total gold production from the Tambourah mining centre is about 5,247 ounces of gold.
Notably, the state is also interested in Tambourah’s Federal historical workings target as the program is partially funded by a $30,000 drilling grant under the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme, or “EIS”. The EIS program provides $5 million a year and a maximum of $50,000 per company, per round to encourage drilling in under-explored areas of Western Australia.
Interestingly, the Federal line of workings are located as close as 300m from the Western chief mine and less than 1 kilometre south of the World’s Fair mine.
With a grab bag of interesting and historically pursued targets, Tambourah will enter drilling season looking to write its own piece of history.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Matt Birney
