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Print [Ferro-alloys.com]Zenith Minerals (ASX: ZNC) has defined an initial Inferred Resource for the first of its manganese prospects in the Earaheedy Basin, north of Wiluna in Western Australia.
The Inferred Resource for the Red Lake Prospect comprises 1.6 million tonnes at 15.7% manganese, using a 5% cut-off grade, including 1.2 million tonnes at 19% manganese, using a 10% cut-off grade.
Zenith has previously identified the Earaheedy Basin as a potential new manganese province with similarities to the giant Kalahari manganese field in South Africa.
The Resource estimate for the Red Lake Prospect was based on drilling completed in late 2012.
The mineralisation has a lateral extent of about 400 metres by 300 metres, is up to 4 metres in true thickness and has been tested by reverse circulation drilling.
Notable intercepts from drilling included 5 metres at 34.8% manganese from 22 metres, including 3 metres at 41% manganese; 3 metres at 34.8% manganese from 19 metres, including 1 metre at 42.3%; and 3 metres at 32.6% manganese from 20 metres, including 2 metres at 38.4% manganese.
Geophysics and drilling are planned for a range of manganese targets in the next few months, including at the Christmas Bore prospect.
Most of the targets to be tested are located beneath shallow cover in the Lockeridge and Red Lake areas. The principal aim is to outline sufficient manganese ore to support a mining operation.
Zenith’s Earaheedy Basin tenements cover 75 strike kilometres of prospective stratigraphy.
Primary mineralisation comprises stratiform manganese carbonate and is associated with iron formations in adjacent stratigraphy.
Zenith’s priority target is high grade, over 40%, manganese oxide formed by weathering or supergene upgrade of the primary carbonate.
The next stage of scout drilling is targeted at confirming the presence of manganese mineralisation prior to completing additional detailed resource definition drilling in subsequent programs.
Bulk sampling for beneficiation and metallurgical test of manganese mineralisation will be undertaken once there is an indication of additional manganese mineralisation in the area.
Zenith had $2.6 million in cash at the end of the December 2012 quarter.
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