Phase 2 Drilling completed at Hancock
Initial pXRF results indicate further significant High-Grade Iron Ore intersected
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http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4651C_1-2021-6-20.pdf
Alien Metals Ltd (LSE AIM:UFO), a minerals exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that, further to its announcement on 7 June 2021, the Company has now completed its Phase 2 drilling program on the Hancock tenement, which is part of the Hamersley Iron Ore Project, Western Australia.
The program targeted three main Direct Shipping Ore (“DSO”) zones identified in the maiden drill program, which intersected high grade DSO mineralisation.
Highlights:
o Phase 2 drilling completed in June 2021, with 40 Reverse Circulation (“RC”) holes for 2,175m
o Excellent hand held portable XRF (“pXRF”) results across all targets.
o Sirius Extension, which adjoins the Sirius iron ore project held by Brockman Mining (124mt @ 60.32% Fe) resource drill plan completed with significant pXRF readings including 23m @ 60.5% Fe and 28m @ 60.5% Fe.
o Ridge C including 9m @ 62.8% Fe, 10m @ 61.4% Fe and 10m @ 60.4% Fe has initially defined strike of over 800m
o Ridge E including 11m @ 65.5% Fe, 11m @ 64.5% Fe, 10m @ 63.1% Fe and 8m @ 62.4% Fe for over 1,300m strike length
o New target “Krill Back” identified southeast of the Sirius Extension.
o Laboratory results to follow once available.
Bill Brodie Good, CEO & Technical Director of Alien Metals, commented:
“Being able to retain the same drill rig and crew for this critical second phase of drilling, particularly when there is such a high level of demand in WA, was a great coup for us and we are delighted to have completed this second phase so quickly after the first. With the early observations from geological logging and the pXRF monitoring, we are very hopeful the results will confirm our interpretation.
“We now hope to be in a position to produce a maiden inferred resource on the Sirius Extension prospect and subsequently plan some further pinpoint drilling in order to develop potential additional resources on one or several of the western ridges. We plan to further explore Ridges C and E while advancing exploration on the highly prospective and pretty much non explored remaining extensive ridges we have outlined.
“Looking ahead, we are now considering a very early-stage strategic review to determine the potential for this project to become a standalone economic operation, and to understand the work streams required to advance this.
“We are also working with the relevant parties to complete the necessary Heritage surveys on the Brockman tenement so we can carry out a maiden drilling program there as well.
“With iron ore prices remaining robust and the consistently good results we are seeing from our exploration, the team is increasingly encouraged by the potential of Hamersley Iron Ore Project, and we look forward to updating the market further as we continue to drive these projects up the value curve.”
Figure 1: Location of the Brockman and Hancock Ranges Tenements, Hamersley Iron Ore Project, Pilbara, Western Australia
The drilling targeted three main prospects, the Sirius Extension and ridges C and E of the Western Ridges area, while also continuing to develop knowledge and the potential of the project as a whole. This led to the discovery of a new target at “Krill Back”. The tenement now has five known prospects, including the Sirius Extension, Kalgan, Western Ridges (Ridges C-D-E), Southern Ridge and Krill Back, with a large part of the tenement still underexplored.
All samples generated were dispatched to Intertek Genalysis at Maddington, Perth, WA, and analysed for their Standard Iron Ore Package Analysis with XRF finish, which includes elements Fe, Al, Ca, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S and Si.
QA/QC carried out was based on inserting on average 5% Certified Reference Material (CRM) samples and 5% duplicate samples.
Figure 2: 2nd Phase Targets and Prospects, Hancock Tenement, Hamersley Iron Ore Project, June 2021
Sirius Extension Prospect
The Sirius Extension prospect is located in the north-east corner of the tenement and borders the Sirius DSO project owned by Brockman Mining to the east (124Mt @ 60.32% Fe). A limited drill program at the prospect by Volta Mining in 2014 intercepted DSO mineralisation. Based on this and recent work done by Alien, the Company identified the strike-length of the Sirius Extension prospect to be ~450m and the mineralisation remains open at depth. Significant intersections from the maiden drilling at the Sirius Extension prospect included 103m @ 61.79% Fe which finished in DSO grade iron ore from hole AM21RC001 048, and 73m @ 59.72% Fe from the nearby hole AM21RC001 047 which also finished in DSO grade ore.
The Phase 2 program successfully drilled all planned holes, which should enable the Company to generate a maiden JORC compliant resource initially on the Sirius Extension Prospect.
Significant pXRF results measured in the field during Phase 2 recent drilling at the Sirius Extension prospect include 23m @ 60.5% Fe from 1m in hole AM21RC002 003, and 28m @ 60.5% Fe from 10m in hole AM21RC002 008 (Table 1). 8 out of the 11 holes drilled at the Sirius Extension prospect intersected a minimum of 20m @ >55% Fe. Significantly, the relation of grade in the holes from the current combination of laboratory results and pXRF results also relates to the visible geology and trend of the interpreted high grade ore body as well hence the Company has confidence in the pXRF readings as a guide to final laboratory results as seen in Figure 3 below.
Figure 3: Drilling intercepts summary – (Final laboratory and pXRF readings), Sirius Extension Prospect, Hancock Tenement, Hamersley Iron Ore Project, June 2021
Western Ridges Prospects
The Western Ridges prospects current focus was ridges C, D and E. The maiden drilling targeted all three prominent ridges, which led to the discovery of Ridges C and E DSO zones where the already reported excellent results from the ridge targets include 26m @ 54.3 % Fe from surface at hole AM21RC001 006, 13m @ 61.5 % Fe from 2m depth and 12m @ 60.5% Fe from 4m at Ridge E hole AM21RC001 033.
The second round of RC drilling targeted these known high-grade areas, and enabled the Company to successfully intersect high grade DSO material in all nine holes along Ridge E.
Figure 4: Drill hole locations with DSO intercepts, Western Ridges, Hancock Tenement, Hamersley Iron Ore Project, June 2021
Ridge C prospect
Following the discovery of the Ridge C DSO zone identified in maiden drilling, Alien planned to further its understanding of the area and test the extent and continuity of the DSO zone. Results from the initial drilling included 26m @ 54.3 % Fe from surface in hole AM21RC001 006 (including 13m @ 61.5 % Fe from 2m depth). Hole AM21RC001 019, which lies 225m east of ‘006’, intersected 2 thinner DSO beds 2m at 61.54% Fe from 14m and 5m at 55.0% Fe from 3m.
Significant pXRF results measured in the field during recent drilling at the Ridge C prospect includes 9m @ 62.8% Fe from 13m in hole AM21RC002 027, and 10m @ 61.4% Fe from 7m in hole AM21RC002 028. Hole AM21RC002 025, 90m northeast of AM21RC001 006 where the initial discovery was made, intersected 10m @ 60.4% Fe from 8m, this, alongside the other results suggest that DSO grade iron ore is laterally continuous along strike for approximately 850m.
Figure 5: 2nd Phase drilling intersections pXRF results, Ridge C DSO Zone, Hancock Tenement, Hamersley Iron Ore Project, June 2021
Ridge E prospect
At Ridge E, Alien used results from the maiden drilling program to better target interpreted zones of DSO grade iron ore. This resulted in all holes along Ridge E successfully intersecting DSO grade iron ore.
Significant pXRF results measured in the field during the recent phase of drilling at the Ridge E prospect include 11m @ 65.5% Fe from 2m in hole AM21RC002 036, 11m @ 64.5% Fe from 7m in hole AM21RC002 032, 10m @ 63.1% Fe from 13m in hole AM21RC002 035 and 8m @ 62.4% Fe from 9m in hole AM21RC002 033.
Maiden and follow up drilling along Ridge E intersected 11 holes DSO grade material, the average intersection across these holes is 9.3m, with an average grade of 62.03% Fe from the handheld pXRF. This DSO zone extends from hole AM21RC002 029 to AM21RC002 036, which is ~ 1400m strike, and which remains open in both directions.
Satellite imagery suggests the prominent elevated ridge including Ridge E extends for a further 8.5km to the east within the tenement. This easterly extent of the Hancock tenement is completely unexplored to date but will be the target for next stage work by Alien.
Figure 6: 2nd Phase drilling intersections pXRF results, Ridge E DSO Zone, Hancock Tenement, Hamersley Iron Ore Project, June 2021
To date, the Company has focused its exploration efforts in the northwest and north-eastern areas of the tenement. There remains significant potential to identify further areas of DSO grade iron ore beds across the rest of the tenement (see Figure 7 below).
Figure 7: Target areas for ground reconnaissance, Hancock Tenement, Hamersley Iron Ore Project, June 2021
The Board of Alien continues to assess a range of mineral projects and opportunities, with particular focus on exploration projects with near term news flow and value creation.
– Ends –
For further information please visit the Company’s website at www.alienmetals.uk, or contact:
Alien Metals Limited
Bill Brodie Good, CEO & Technical Director
(via St-James’ Corporate Services, Company Secretary)
Tel: +44 20 7796 8644
