Another positive step for Pantera with visual manganese at Weelarrana

Pantera Minerals has completed phase 1 Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling at its Weelarrana Project in WA, with visually identified manganese mineralisation intersected on each drill line.

The drilling confirmed continuous visually identified manganese mineralisation over a strike of 800m, with manganese mineralisation open to the north, east and west.

Plus, near surface manganese mineralisation was identified in 25 holes – with true thicknesses ranging from 2 to 12m.

“The recently completed drilling has been a positive first step in subsurface exploration within the Weelarrana Project area, and we eagerly await the assay results,” Pantera Minerals (ASX:PFE) CEO Matt Hansen said.

A total of 30 RC holes were drilled for 965 metres and 299 samples have been sent for laboratory analysis, with assay results expected during December 2022.

Plenty of manganese potential

The Weelarrana Project covers 958km² of tenure considered prospective for manganese and precious metal mineralisation, with all tenements cover either Ilgarari Formation manganiferous shales or Backdoor Formation manganiferous shales – which are known to host economic manganese mineralisation at Element 25’s (ASX:E25) Butcherbird Deposit and Firebird Metals (ASX:FRB) Hill 616 Deposit.

Despite the presence of two significant manganese deposits along strike and within the same stratigraphy, the area covered by the company’s tenements has been underexplored for manganese.

“We look forward to progressing the Project through further systematic exploration and further building on the geological model developed by our in-house geology team and are also excited to explore the other nearby manganese prospects,” Hansen said.

More field work planned for 2023

Once the assay results are received these will be reviewed and infill drilling of Mn Area 1 will be planned and permitted.

A review of geophysical targeting methods will also be undertaken to aid in the identification of extensions of the manganiferous shale unit under cover to the north, east and west as well as determining if there is a geophysical method that can identify the semi-massive to massive manganese zones.

The next step is permitting and drilling of Mn Areas 2 to 4, with Pantera planning to recommence field work in early 2023.

This article was developed in collaboration with Pantera Minerals (ASX:PFE), 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.