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AW1 building case for West Desert open pit after thick, shallow zinc-copper hit

Pic: Getty Images

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American West’s record of strong mineralised intercepts at its West Desert project is continuing with its third diamond hole returning a thick, high-grade interval.

Assays confirmed that WD22-02 had intersected a 11.44m zone grading 6.46% zinc, 0.17% copper, 0.22 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 90.73g/t indium from a depth of 74.54m within a broader 35.52m interval at 3.2% zinc, 0.17% copper, 0.15g/t gold, 16.43g/t silver and 52.66g/t indium.

It comes after American West Metals (ASX:AW1) noted earlier this month that the WD22-04 and WD22-05 had hit over 400m and a total of 230m of visual mineralisation respectively.

“We are very pleased to receive strong assay results for WD22-02, and these will be used to support the metallurgical program,” managing director Dave O’Neill said.

“The drill hole has intersected thick zinc, copper and indium mineralisation near surface. The interval is particularly enriched with indium grades up to 237g/t, a critical metal and important credit within our zinc concentrate.”

Diamond drilling at West Desert is continuing with more assay results expected in the coming weeks.

 

Drill result

The mineralisation intersected by WD22-02 is variably weathered and consists of oxide and transitional ores.

Notably, it confirms the continuity of near surface mineralisation at the Main Zone of the West Desert Deposit and supports the potential for an open pit development scenario.

Historical metallurgical test work on the oxidised zinc and copper mineralisation using traditional sulphuric acid processing methods have returned high recoveries of zinc, copper and indium.

Exploitation of the oxide zones at West Desert will give development optionality and significant additional mine life to the project.

This is especially true given that this material has not been considered by previous mining and economic studies, which have focused on the sulphide ores and the generation of a magnetite iron-ore product.

 

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.

Categories: Mining

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