- Maronan Metals has received impressive results from the Western Horizon within the Starter Zone
- MMA says this new area will become a key focus area for future drilling
- Work is now underway on a revised resource estimation for the project
Special Report: While the focus for Maronan Metals has been on the silver-enriched Eastern Horizon, “impressive results” have been received on the Western Horizon which will become one of the major priorities for future drilling.
Maronan Metals’ (ASX:MMA) flagship project of the same name is one of Australia’s largest, highest-grade, undeveloped silver resources, located about 90km north of the giant Cannington silver-lead-zinc mine in northwest Queensland.
To date, the explorer has been homing in on the Eastern Horizon within the Starter Zone, where previous shallow results have intersected a broad interval of mineralisation over 18.5m averaging 5% lead and 106g/t silver.
But new hits up to 17.1% lead and 112g/t silver have uncovered an exciting focus area for future drilling which could add significant tonnage to the Maronan silver-lead and copper-gold resource.
Standout drilling results
MMA says hole MRN23022 has delivered some of the best lead results seen at the project.
Standout intercepts form the Western Horizon include:
- 8.4m at 17.1% lead and 112g/t silver, including 4.4m at 22.2% lead and 148g/t silver; and
- 27.6m at 4.3% lead and 65g/t silver, including 5m at 7.5% lead and 173g/t silver.
The high tenor section of the intercept has a true width of about 7m and is a 100m step-out from historical hole MRN07001 which returned 14.8m at 11.1% lead and 133g/t silver, including 6.47m at 18.1% lead and 255g/t silver.
From MMA’s point of view, this result “materially extends” high-grade mineralisation on the Western Horizon, which remains open down-plunge and highlights the significant value that can be gained from closer spaced and step-out drilling.
Work underway on revised resource estimation
“This is a great way to finish the 2023 drilling program,” MMA managing director Richard Carlton says.
“While our focus over the past six months has been the on the silver-enriched Eastern Horizon, this drilling show the Western Horizon also contains very strong mineralisation within the Starter Zone, which bodes well for potential mining scenarios.”
MMA has now concluded the 2023 exploration drilling program, having completed 16,784m since the program began in August 2022.
Work is well underway on a revised resource estimation with an update to be provided in the first half of 2024.
Metallurgical research on the range of copper-gold mineralisation types and environmental base line studies have been initiated.
This article was developed in collaboration with Maronan 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.
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