Belararox eyes new targets to boost Belara 5Mt copper-zinc resource

Native Bee peak assay values were 4.71% copper, 156 g/t silver, 0.43 g/t gold, 5% lead and 1.32% zinc
Ben Buckley peak assay values were 0.97% copper, 188 g/t silver, 0.39 g/t gold, 14.90% lead and 0.56% zinc
The project currently has a resource of 5Mt at 3.41% zinc equivalent
Southern extension of Native bee and Ben Buckley high priorities for drilling
The company is also exploring at its Argentinian copper and WA lithium projects

Rock chip samples from Belararox’s Belara base metals project have identified additional surface mineralisation, confirming the southern extension of the Native Bee deposit and Ben Buckley structural trend as high-priority targets.

The 643km2 Belara project in the Lachlan Fold Belt of NSW includes the historic Belara and Native Bee mines that have been drilled to a depth of around 400 vertical metres and have massive sulphide mineralisation containing significant intersections of zinc, copper, silver, lead and gold.

Exploration to date has focussed on identifying additional mineralisation to the previously announced maiden resource of 5Mt at 3.41% zinc equivalent – including 1.82% zinc, 0.33% copper, 0.63% lead, 17.5 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 0.21g/t gold – at the Belara and Native Bee deposits.

Mineralisation is open along strike and at depth for both Belara and Native Bee with Belararox (ASX:BRX) confident of the potential for additional resources to be identified in the next phase of exploration.

Growing the resource base

At Native Bee, gossanous rock chip sampling (10 samples) produced average grades of 1.44% copper, 71 g/t silver, 0.24 g/t gold, 1.61% lead and 0.30% zinc.

Peak assay values were 4.71% copper, 156 g/t silver, 0.43 g/t gold, 5% lead and 1.32% zinc.

The sampling also confirmed the existence of a secondary mineralised lode (at least 100m length) that has not been drill tested to date.

At Ben Buckley, gossanous rock chip sampling in proximity to historical workings produced average grades of 0.50% copper, 49.1 g/t silver, 0.19 g/t gold, 2.94% lead and 0.24% zinc.

Peak assay values were 0.97% copper, 188 g/t silver, 0.39 g/t gold, 14.90% lead and 0.56% zinc.

“As the managing director, I’m delighted to announce promising outcomes from our recent exploration endeavours at the Belara project,” MD Arvind Misra said.

“These developments significantly bolster our outlook for exploration.

“Notably, at the Native Bee site, rock chip sampling conducted south of the established inferred resource zone has unveiled substantial mineralization, featuring peak values of 4.71% copper and 156.0 g/t silver.

“Similarly, the Ben Buckley prospect has yielded positive results, with peak values of 0.97% copper and 188.0 g/t silver.”

Misra added that the company’s strategic plans entail further refinement of targets, on-site exploration activities, negotiations for access to EL9523 and EL9538, and subsequent drilling efforts.

“These achievements underscore our unwavering commitment to responsible resource expansion,” he said.

“We eagerly anticipate the opportunities that these projects bring and are dedicated to delivering enduring value to our esteemed shareholders.”

Belararox (ASX:BRX) — Pic: Location of the Belara project. Source: BRX.

Drill planning underway

The recent results highlight the potential to add significant mineralisation to the existing resource at Native Bee with follow-up drill hole planning of surface mineralisation at depth ongoing.

Planned exploration activities include target generation and on ground exploration (field mapping and sampling).

Further access negotiations are also ongoing on the recently granted EL9523 and EL9538 exploration licences at the project which the company believes could host further targets for drilling.

BRX also recently flagged Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite potential at the Bullabulling project in WA, where the plan is to drill selective targets based on a LCT pathfinder prospectivity in the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2023.

The company is also hunting for epithermal gold and porphyry copper systems at its Toro-Malambo-Tambo (TMT) project in Argentina, which is along strike from monster deposits including Pascua Lama (22Moz), Veladero (6.1Moz), and Filo del Sol (1338m @1.33% CuEq).

“Furthermore, I would like to highlight the substantial potential of our TMT project, which is poised to lead the way in discovering potentially a tier 1 copper deposit,” Misra said.

“Under the guidance of our esteemed exploration director, Jason Ward, our team is dedicated to realizing this ambitious goal.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Belararox, 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.