Traka Resources (ASX:TKL) reports final results from a Mobile MagnetoTelluric (MobileMT) helicopter-borne geophysical flown in July over the Mt Cattlin Gold-Copper Project has identified ‘favourable positions’ for mineralised intrusives.
The survey was undertaken to assist in establishing the geological setting of the 3 previously highlighted buried mineralised intrusives highlighted by geochemical 3D Footprint Modelling.
Traka reports that the largest and shallowest of the buried 3D Geochemical Footprint Models at Mt Cattlin is the No. 1 intrusive, interpreted to be hosted within the volcanic rocks of the Annabelle Volcanics.
The intrusive adjoins the large, near-vertical Ravensthorpe Fault where it bends in an area of higher conductance within the Chester Formation.
A flat-lying tonalite sill, interpreted to be an extension of the large tonalite body outcropping to the south, sandwiches the No. 1 intrusive body between itself and the Ravensthorpe Fault.
The company notes this geological setting gives credence to the anomalous geochemical samples collected above (3D Footprint Geochemical Sampling) and is both favourable and characteristic of all the known mineralisation in the district.
A drillhole of about 1,000m depth would penetrate the core of the No. 1 intrusive, although it is expected that shallower holes up-dip would also detect mineralisation.
The No. 2 intrusive body is in a similar geological setting to number 1 that adjoins the Ravensthorpe Fault on a bend. An intersecting thrust fault occurs to the immediate east. The No. 1 and No. 2 intrusive bodies join along the trend of the Ravensthorpe Fault at a lower level of confidence in the geochemical model.
Traka reports this extends the zone of interest over a strike length of 1.5km along the northwest trend of the Ravensthorpe Fault, but for purposes of targeting the core position would skew the focus for initial drilling.
The core of the No. 2 intrusive can be drilled with an 800m deep hole although, as with the No. 1 intrusive position, mineralisation could be expected to occur up-dip of the core position.
The extent of the flat tonalite sill is evident within the 350 Ohm m contour, and this demonstrates that the No. 2 intrusive occurs with the intrusives and volcanic rocks hosting the other known mineralised positions at Mt Cattlin.
The No.3 intrusive body is directly below the Sirdar Resource and below the contact of the flat-lying tonalite sill.
A late-stage mineralised structure, which is the same as that known to host the mineralised position at Ellendale, Grafter and Revival is interpreted to pass through the tonalite sill.
Mineralised hydrothermal fluid flowing through the tonalite could account for the geochemical anomaly (3D Footprint Geochemical Sampling) as well as the Induced Polarisation (IP) anomaly associated with Sirdar.
A drillhole of 1,000m would be required to test the No.3 mineralised intrusive below the tonalite sill.
Traka Resources Managing Director Patrick Verbeek said the helicopter-borne geophysical survey, which commenced in July, has been an important body of work.
“The final interpreted results have now been received and, together with the previously completed 3D Geochemical Pathfinder survey, has given us a much clearer picture of where the buried intrusives are located relative to major geological structures.
We are now adding this data to information gained from drilling and other geological data to finalise drilling locations and vectors towards a possible major gold-copper discovery at depth.
“We are encouraged by the fact that the MobileMT survey places the intrusives in favourable structural positions, which adds to the prospectivity of the Mt Cattlin discovery”
We are encouraged by the fact that the MobileMT survey places the intrusives in favourable structural positions, which adds to the prospectivity of the Mt Cattlin discovery.
We are looking forward to finalising the design of our planned drill program and advancing the Project towards the drill-ready stage.
If successful, the next phase of exploration could be transformative for the project and the company.”
The MobileMT survey has provided a new geological framework for the Mt Cattlin Project, and the company highlights the ongoing potential to define extensions of mineralisation to the known prospects above the tonalite sill in addition to providing a perspective on the buried intrusives.
Most of the gold and copper mineralisation found historically in the Ravensthorpe district is in cluster positions peripheral to the tonalite intrusive forming the centre of the Ravensthorpe Greenstone Belt.
The confluence of mineralised structures in the project area on the major fold axis of the greenstone belt is a ‘favourable’ focus for mineralised fluids.
The extent of the mineralised fluid flow accounts for the high degree of alteration characteristic of the project and the skarn alteration (garnet, magnetite, aegirine) developed on the margins of the complex series of intrusives and the underlying tonalite sill.
The previous aeromagnetic and IP surveys are noted to correlate to a material extent with the MobileMT survey results and will assist with design of the follow-up drill is being planned.
Traka Resources is a minerals exploration company working to unlock the potential of the Mt Cattlin Gold-Copper Project in southwestern Western Australia.
The Mt Cattlin Project is a proven mining district, located immediately north of the Mt Cattlin Lithium Mine operated by Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY), and in close proximity to the Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine (FQM) and Ravensthorpe Gold Project operated by Medallion Metals (ASX:MM8).
