Argent Minerals has much to cheer about with the discovery of new volcanogenic massive sulphide and base metal mineralisation at its Kempfield project. Pic: Getty Images
Mining
Special Report: Argent Minerals’ Kempfield project has new volcanogenic massive sulphide and base metal mineralisation that could significantly increase the upside potential of its Kempfield project in NSW.
Drilling returned assays including 44m grading 0.31% copper+lead+zinc from just 1m and 56m at 0.22% copper+lead+zinc from 24m within the new VMS lode at the Sugarloaf Hill prospect about 320m south-southeast of the Lode 200 Mineralised Block that has a resource of 28Mt at 66.42g/t silver equivalent.
To top it off, all holes drilled to date have ended within oxide material and have not encountered basement lithologies, meaning that further drilling is required to intersect sulphides at depth. The system also remains open along strike, meaning there’s plenty of room for growth.
Argent Minerals (ASX:ARD) has also intersected high-grade base metal mineralisation in two scout holes at the Golden Wattle prospect about 2.6km east of the Kempfield deposit.
These returned assays of 19m at 0.84% copper+lead+zinc from 34m and 2m at 19.4g/t silver and 1.88% copper+lead+zinc from 51m in hole AKRC280 and 1m at 1.76% copper+lead+zinc from 66m in AKRC281, which ended in mineralisation.
The latest results follow on from the company reporting the intersection of shallow, broad and high-grade zones of silver-gold-copper-lead-zinc mineralisation at the Kempfield NW Zone prospect in mid-October 2024.
“The newly defined thick base metal zones over Sugarloaf Hill demonstrates a strong continuation of mineralised extensions southeast from Lode 200 Mineralised Block,” managing director Pedro Kastellorizos said.
“These assay results further reinforce the significant upside potential of the Kempfield project as we continue to expand the mineralised footprint.
“The drilling has also confirmed further mineralisation over extensive intervals at Golden Wattle Prospect for the very first time.
“These newly identified mineralised zones are located 2.6km east of the Kempfield deposit signifying confidence in the scale and overall potential of this newly discovered mineralised zone.”
Kempfield has a global resource of 63.7Mt at 69.75g/t silver equivalent, or 142.8Moz contained silver equivalent.
The four holes drilled at Sugarloaf Hill were designed to drill test the geochemical silver-base metal anomalies delineated by the rock chip sampling.
All holes intersected highly oxidised interbedded siltstone and sandstones though diamond drilling will be required to drill at greater depths to intersect the transitional and fresh rock to delineate sulphides at depth.
Hole AKRC267 intersected the largest mineralised zone containing 56m of anomalous silver averaging 4.8 g/t with 0.22% lead+zinc from 24m.
Meanwhile, drilling at Golden Wattle tested the geochemical silver-base metal anomalies delineated by the rock chip sampling.
This also remains open at depth and along strike with the company planning to test all zones with further RC drilling during the next campaign.
Assays are currently pending for another six RC holes at the two prospects.
This article was developed in collaboration with Argent Minerals, 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.
