Zenith, Rumble drilling doubles size of Chinook lead-silver discovery

Zenith Minerals’ belief in the potential of the Earaheedy zinc-lead-silver project has been validated with drilling doubling the mineralised envelope of the Chinook discovery.

Assays such as 38m grading 2.78% zinc and lead, 4.6% manganese and 2.9 grams per tonne (g/t) silver from 23m from the first four holes expanded the surface expression of the mineralised envelope of the lead-zinc discovery to over 3km by 1.8km.

The intersection of very wide, near surface mineralisation also highlights the potential to define a large-scale oxide resource.

Zenith Minerals (ASX:ZNC), which holds 25% of Earaheedy, and operating partner Rumble Resources (ASX:RTR) are now carrying out follow-up drilling to scope out Chinook’s size potential as part of a broader 30,000m program at Earaheedy.

Once the overall extent of mineralisation is known, drilling will then focus on defining zones of higher-grade zinc-lead-manganese-silver mineralisation along with inferred higher-grade feeder faults.

“These new results from the first 4 holes of the ongoing 30,000m program are particularly encouraging,” chairman Peter Bird said.

“The new zones of thick zinc mineralisation from just 4 holes already point towards a significant expansion of the mineralised envelope.

“The important next steps advancing the Chinook zinc-lead discovery consists of broad spaced, step out drilling into new untested areas looking to find the edges of the mineralisation.”

He added that this initial work suggests that the prospect is a large-scale, world-class discovery that remains open along strike and both up and down dip.

Drill results

The first hole that was drilled 500m along strike to the northwest and returned the 38m intersection at 2.78% zinc+lead, 4.6% manganese and 2.9g/t silver from 23m, includes a higher grade core of 9m at 3.67% zinc+lead, 7.44% manganese and 3.6g/t silver from a depth of 46m.

On the eastern drill limits of the Chinook prospect, normal faults have lifted the mineralisation on multiple occasions to open pit-type depths while remaining completely open.

Additionally, an initial gravity survey has confirmed that northwest to north-northwest orientated gravity trends correlate with the previously inferred feeder faults that underlie Chinook.

Next steps

With just 8% of the drilling completed to date, there’s still plenty of news to come with activity to accelerate once the second and third rigs arrive over the coming weeks.

Besides the Chinook drilling, Zenith and Rumble will also carry out a trial sonic drilling program to focus on twinning three reverse circulation drill holes to improve recovery of cored material.

A gravity survey is also planned along strike between Chinook and Magazine to aid in the targeting of prospective zinc-lead-manganese-silver mineralisation.

This article was developed in collaboration with Zenith 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.