Zenith Minerals (ASX:ZNC) has identified high grade manganese from rock sampling conducted on two new, strike extensive manganese prospects at Earaheedy in Western Australia.

At the Bluegrass Prospect results up to 48.1% manganese were discovered in outcropping, massive to interbedded manganese beds, up to 1.5 metres thick and over 3 kilometres of strike.

Mapping identified zones with more than one manganese unit, and the flat lying to shallow dipping manganese is an attractive drill target with easy access.

At the Blue Elbow Prospect, results up to 38.2% manganese were returned from outcrops over 500 metres of strike of massive to locally bedded manganese up to 1 metre thick.

Again the shallow dip of beds provides for simple drilling.

Zenith’s targeted geological reconnaissance mapping program was undertaken to assess the area immediately along strike of its Lockeridge Manganese Prospect.

Drilling in 2013 at Lockeridge returned 3 metres at 25.1% manganese from 8 metres, and 3 metres at 20.2% manganese from 27 metres.

In addition to drill planning at Earaheedy, Zenith is undertaking a revised resource estimate for its Red Lake manganese deposit as a result of a new geological interpretation and to include new density data, both of which are likely to impact on the resource estimate.

• [Editor:Sophie]