Rum Jungle Resources Limited (ASX:RUM) Exploration Update - September, 2011
Perth, Sep 22, 2011 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Rum Jungle Resources Limited (
ASX:RUM) is pleased to announce that exploration plans for potash resource drilling on the Karinga Creek salt lakes were recently approved by the NT Department of Resources. Vibracore drilling immediately commenced and eight drill holes were completed to a maximum depth of 3.5 m. The vibracore system was successful at coring the soft lake sediments however was not able to penetrate through stiff clays and fractured siltstones beneath the lake sediments.
This siltstone of the Horseshoe Bend Shale of the Devonian aged Finke Group is basement to most lakes in the project area and, where it is fractured, it contains free-flowing brine. Thus, the Horseshoe Bend Shale is now considered to be the host aquifer beneath the salt lakes and this aquifer is thought to supply most of the recharge water to the salt lake system. This is why even after many years of drought conditions, the salt lakes are always wet in the subsurface. The Horseshoe Bend Shale is evaporitic and outcrops fringe almost all salt lakes. Salts leached from these evaporite outcrops are probably the source of most salt in the salt lakes.
The discovery of a basement-hosted salt water aquifer is a significant step forward for the project as previous government mapping and reports had suggested only minimal recharge from surficial fringing calcrete aquifers after rain events. Previous explorers on the salt lakes system also failed because they could not prove a substantial recharge feeder for the lakes.
A decision was made to switch to a sonic drill rig which should be able to penetrate into the fractured siltstone of the Horseshoe Bend Shale. Sonic drilling will not only prove-up a brine resource from within the lake bed sediments (typically clayey sands and gypsum) but will allow the inclusion of a potentially much larger brine resource of yet uncertain depth in the basement siltstone aquifer under the lakes. A sonic drill rig will mobilise to site next week. Drilling will be supported by specialist all-terrain vehicles and helicopter-lift.
RUM will continue to move forward over coming months with a strategy to test the geochemistry, size, structure and recharge potential of the basement aquifer. Work will include sonic drilling for resource estimation, trialling of helicopter-borne geophysical methods to map the salt water zones and aquifers, both within and beneath the lakes. Pending Government approval, trenching and pump testing of lakes will be undertaken to determine recharge rates.
AMMAROO PHOSPHATE UPDATE (RUM 100%)
Now into the sixth week of this campaign of resource drilling, approximately 350 additional resource drill holes for 11 500 metres had been completed at Barrow Creek 1. Drilling with one rig continues at a rate of around 300 m per day. Resource drilling has extended the grid to the south and central east. Fifty metre spaced infill drilling to test for DSO material has also been completed. Approximately 3000 samples have been submitted to the laboratory for assay.
Western extensional drilling should be completed in one week. The drill rig will then move on to regional exploration and will test a number of geophysical targets of similar magnetic signature to Barrow Creek 1 and Ammaroo 1.
Once resource drilling is complete and all assays received, data will be sent to Hellman & Schofield for a resource estimation upgrade. This upgrade will also contain drill data from 32 diamond drill holes (815.9m), complete with assays of all samples by both IC4 and XRF geochemical methods. Data also includes 58 diamond drill core density samples and 70 density measurements of rocks from three bulk sample locations.
Bulk sample testing continues, including a comminution program being expanded to include a full JKTech Drop Weight Test. This, and the various milling tests already in progress, will provide comprehensive data needed to design a milling circuit in the beneficiation process.
A water bore has been drilled and water will be piped to the new exploration camp which will arrive on site next week.
ADMINISTRATION AND MARKETING
The Managing Director has been invited to join a contingent from the NT Department of Resources and the Minister for Mines to visit Korea, Japan and China during October. The company also continues to attract interest from potential investors offshore with whom it is having general discussions.
For the complete Rum Jungle Resources Limited announcement including figures and tables, please view the following link:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-RUM-361379.pdf
About Verdant Minerals Ltd
Verdant Minerals Ltd's (ASX:VRM) strategic intent is to create shareholder value through the discovery, development and operation of fertiliser and industrial mineral projects, located in close proximity to existing transport infrastructure, with a primary focus on the Northern Territory of Australia.
| ||
|
