Rum Jungle completes Northern Grid drilling at Barrow Creek 1
THE DRILL SERGEANT: Northern Territory-focused exploration play Rum Jungle Resources has received all assays from its recently completed 100 metre by 100 metre grid drilling at the Barrow Creek 1phosphate deposit, from which several shallow high grade zones have been delineated within the area.
The company is now waiting to receive assays from holes drilled in the southern part of the grid, which was drilled at 200m spacing.
Two additional bulk sample trenches have been excavated and samples sent for beneficiation testing. All remaining drilling results are expected early June.
Rum Jungle is confident Barrow Creek 1 can become Australia’s shallowest high grade phosphate deposit.
Shallow high grade results from the recent drilling include:
– 4m at 27.2% phosphate from 2m, including 1m at 30.5%;
– 5m at 28.3% phosphate from 3m, including 2m at 32.1%;
– 5m at 24% phosphate from 3m, including 2m at 32.1%; and
– 3m at 26.8% phosphate from 3m including 1m at 32.1%.
“These results are very encouraging and confirm intervals over 30% phosphate occur close to surface which may provide early cash flow as direct shipping ore (DSO) whilst the rest of the deposit may be upgraded via beneficiation,” Rum Jungle said in a company announcement.
“These results are based on a 15% P2O5 (phosphate) cut-off which compares favourably with other deposits in the Southern Hemisphere and in Asia.
“Brazilian mining giant Vale paid 3.8 billion dollars to buy into phosphate mines and fertiliser plants in Brazil in 2010 including 5 mines (Araxa, Cajati, Catalao, Tapira and Patus de Mines) with an average grade of 8.4% P2O5.”
Rum jungle has a further 1500 metre diamond drilling program expected to commence at Barrow Creek 1 within two weeks.
The aim of this program will be to provide additional assays, bulk density and geotechnical information on phosphate mineralisation across the deposit.
It will also provide samples for beneficiation testing at deeper intervals than can be reached with an excavator.
The company expects the diamond drilling data will make it possible for it to upgrade the classification of the current JORC status from “inferred “to “indicated”.
Approximately 30 diamond core holes are planned for Barrow Creek 1 and 5-10 holes at Ammaroo 1, located approximately 60km east.
Rum Jungle also intends additional exploration drilling of approximately 5000m of RAB drilling to commence once authorisation has been granted by the Department of Mines and Energy.