American West’s thick mineralisation hits prove West Desert to be a tasty play

American West has intersected extensive zones of wide, visual copper, zinc and molybdenum mineralisation in the last two diamond wells at its West Desert project.

Drill hole WD22-04 has hit over 400m of mineralisation including multiple thick intervals of porphyry and intrusive hosted copper sulphide mineralisation, and zones of zinc and molybdenum mineralisation.

Likewise, hole WD22-05 struck a total of 230m of zinc and copper mineralisation over multiple intervals with one zone hosting potential coarse gold.

The two holes extend and confirm the continuity of known mineralisation at the West Desert deposit while wrapping up American West Metals’ (ASX:AW1) resource definition phase.

“The drilling is continuing to produce amazing results. The last two drill holes, WD22-04 and WD22-05, were important for resource definition and expansion and certainly appear to have delivered for us,” managing director Dave O’Neill said.

“Both drill holes have hit thick intervals of mineralisation, and importantly, confirmed our assumptions and geological models.

“We are excited to now begin the exploration phase of the drilling to test a number of high-quality targets in the near mine area.”

Drill details

WD22-04 was designed to extend the strong copper mineralisation located on the porphyry/skarn contact further out to east.

Numerous thick zones of chalcopyrite rich mineralisation were encountered within the main porphyry stock, confirming the continuation of copper mineralisation along the prospective porphyry/sediment contact.

Other notable intersections include 25m of strong to semi-massive copper and zinc sulphides in skarn from 420m, 45m of strong zinc and copper sulphides in massive skarn from 572m, and 137m of continuous molybdenum rich mineralisation from 618m.

The last zone is significant as it further highlights the outstanding growth potential and emerging porphyry related mineral system.

WD22-05 was designed to test further continuity of the higher-grade zones within the Main and Deep Zones of the West Desert deposit.

This encountered broad intervals of mineralisation that are interpreted to represent key sections of the West Desert orebody, and is the first drill hole by the company that has intersected the central portion of the Deep Zone.

Notable intersections are 45m of strong zinc sulphides in skarn from 180m, 54m of strong zinc and copper sulphides, with potential coarse gold, in massive skarn from 294m, 15m of very strong zinc and copper sulphides, including bornite, from 350m, and three thick lenses of CRD mineralisation from 613m, including bands of semi-massive zinc sulphides from 661m.

This article was developed in collaboration with American West Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.