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GreenTech Metals set to launch 8300m drill program across Munni Munni and Whundo
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Geophysics survey aims to refine high-priority copper sulphide drill targets at Munni Munni
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Resource update and metallurgical testwork on track for August
Special Report: GreenTech Metals is preparing for an 8300m drill blitz across its Munni Munni PGE-copper-nickel and Whundo copper-zinc-gold projects in WA’s West Pilbara.
The program will comprise 4750m of RC drilling and 3560m of diamond drilling, including wider-diameter diamond holes for metallurgical composite collection.
Drilling will initially be confined to existing drill pads at Munni Munni with further locations to be accessed after a heritage survey is completed. This is scheduled to begin on August 10 and run for eight days.
GreenTech Metals (ASX:GRE)expects mobilisation to begin later this month, with the first rig due on site in late July. A second rig will be deployed once additional areas receive heritage clearance.
At Whundo, where an MRE totalling 6.2Mt at 1.12% Cu and 1.04% Zn has been defined, the drilling will target shallow extensions of high-grade copper-gold.
Munni Munni holds a non-JORC resource of 24Mt at 2.9g/t PGE4 for 2.2Moz of contained metal.
“As we advance planning for our Munni Munni drill program ahead of mobilisation, we have been working to incorporate targets most likely to extend copper dominant zones of the historic resource footprint,” said GreenTech Metals CEO James Rattenbury.
“We see an opportunity to target shallow mineralisation on existing pads ahead of the heritage survey, while also prioritising extensional drilling for high grade Cu-Au at Whundo.”
Geophysics to pinpoint drill targets
GreenTech is also progressing a government co-funded FLEM survey aimed at refining drill targets along the largely untested basal contact of the Munni Munni intrusion.
Management considers this area is prospective for copper sulphide mineralisation.
The survey is scheduled to begin in early July and will cover about 8.2km2.
The WA Government will contribute $100,000 of the estimated $200,000 cost through its co-funded geophysics program.
Results are expected before drilling begins and will be used to pinpoint targets.
Management noted that the FLEM method had already demonstrated success in comparable geological settings.
“The commencement of the FLEM survey is a pivotal step in refining our drill targets at Munni Munni,” said Rattenbury.
“The FLEM method has a proven track record in this style of setting, as demonstrated at the nearby Andover Complex, and we are confident it will sharpen our targeting ahead of drilling.”
Copper focus
GreenTech is also advancing workstreams supporting a Munni Munni resource re-estimation, including geological modelling and metallurgical studies.
A metallurgical program is underway to reaffirm the ore’s suitability for conventional flotation.
It has been expanded to better characterise the flotation behaviour of the Cu-PGE dominant sulphide assemblage and to define parameters for producing a Cu-PGE concentrate.
This represents a shift from historical PGE-focused concentrate scenarios with less emphasis on copper recovery.
Management says the increased focus on copper was supported by strong pricing conditions and growing interest from potential offtake partners.
Results from the testwork are expected in August and will feed into Net Smelter Return parameters for an updated resource estimate and an initial scoping study.
This article was developed in collaboration with GreenTech 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.
