ASX listed base metal developer Myanmar Metals has reported outstanding results from a ground-based gradient array induced polarisation geophysical survey at its flagship Bawdwin deposit in central Myanmar.
Interpretation of the survey data has given very strong indications of relatively shallow new zones of conductive sulphide mineralisation outside of Bawdwin’s existing base metal and silver resources.
According to the company, the chargeable anomaly over the ER Valley, located just southeast of the main Bawdwin mineralisation, rivals the intensity of the anomaly over the high grade China Lode, which constitutes the bulk of the open pit ores mined historically at the project.
Myanmar will now utilise deeper penetrating ground surveys, along with geochemical soil sampling and geological mapping to tie down specific priority targets for drill testing at ER Valley in early 2019.
Myanmar GM Geology Andrew Ford said: “The new … data validates our view that ER Valley is an outstanding exploration prospect, with a chargeability response not unlike the China Lode which has been mined for 100’s of years.”
“Add this data to the existing outcropping mineralisation and records of mineralisation in historic drill holes and adits and the case for the discovery of new mineralised system is very strong.”
What makes the result more exciting is that artisanal workings dating back hundreds of years dot the landscape in the ER Valley, further enhancing the prospectivity of this region, which has had virtually no modern exploration until now.
The area itself has some pedigree, with anomalous lead, copper and zinc assays being returned from limited diamond core drilling programs back in the 1970s.
Additionally, sludge samples taken from adits on the eastern side of the ER Valley reportedly turned up strong lead, zinc and silver values during the 1980s, with copper, cobalt and nickel also being recorded.
The shallow nature of the base metal mineralisation identified within the ER Valley now leaves it fair game for potential economical extraction via a modern open pit mining operation.
The aim of the company’s 2018 exploration program around Bawdwin is to uncover extensions to the known lodes along strike and test the potential elsewhere within the mining concession.
The regional exploration campaign will also play an important role in the company’s PFS by identifying areas free of payable mineralisation as potential sites for the construction of infrastructure and plant to support a future mining operation.
The current program encompasses the electrical geophysical survey programs and data interpretation, regional soil sampling and reconnaissance mapping and surface sampling.
Myanmar Executive Chairman John Lamb added: “The current exploration program is … identifying outstanding exploration targets in the world class Bawdwin minerals province. …the first few weeks of this … program has already produced one excellent candidate to become the next Bawdwin lode after China, Meingtha and Shan and several additional targets as well.”
“With more detailed and deeper geophysics around these anomalies, further GAIP work to follow on the northern half of the tenement, soil sampling underway and drilling of the best targets to follow, there is much to look forward to as the Bawdwin mineral field gives up its secrets.”
By Matt Birney
