Strong Copper, Gold, and Tin Mineralisation Identified at Trident Project

KEY POINTS:

• High grade copper assays returned from Trident Project in NSW with rock chip samples up to 17.60% Cu recorded
• Up to 1.275g/t Au recorded from the same area as highly anomalous copper results
• Multiple tin results greater than 1% received in several samples with up to 2.44% tin also recorded
• Coupled with the high tin results are highly anomalous niobium, tantalum and rubidium grading up to 1080ppm, 676ppm and 3080ppm respectively
• Initial exploration suggests pegmatites appear to be NYF (niobium-yttrium-fluorine) and not LCT (lithium-caesium-tantalum) pegmatites
• Numerous areas of high-grade copper and gold to be followed up on the next sampling program as a matter of priority
• Selective samples will be assayed for Rare Earth Elements (‘REE’) analysis to ascertain rare earth occurrences
• Positive copper and gold assays confirm the potential for IOCG mineralisation at Trident

 

Commenting on results from the Trident sampling program, CEO Simon Phillips said:

“We are pleased with these early results from our sampling at Trident which confirm the highly prospective multi element nature of the project. We are very encouraged by the strong copper, gold and tin mineralisation identified. The Trident Project remains significantly underexplored and we believe we are only scratching the surface in terms of the mineralised potential of this region.

We look forward to the TSC geological team following up these results with further work early in the new calendar year.”

 

Twenty Seven Co. Limited (ASX: TSC) (“TSC” or “the Company”) advises that it has received assay results from its first pass rock chip sampling program at the Trident Project located in NSW (Figure 1).

A total of 152 rock chip samples have been taken from across the northern portion of the tenement, (see Figure 2) within areas of historically reported highly anomalous copper, gold, tin and other critical elements.  

Full results received to date are presented in tables 1 and 2 below.

Figure 1: Location of TSC’s Broken Hill tenements

 

Figure 2: Map showing the locations of the recently taken rock chip samples.

 

The rock chip program was undertaken to target copper and gold mineralisation along with confirmation of the historical lithium samples taken by previous explorers ^{1,2 &3}.  The program was also designed to assist the Company to build its understanding of the regional geology, mineralisation potential and mineralisation patternation within this copper-gold province and tin province.

From the results received numerous follow up areas have been identified in respect of Cu, Au, Nb, Ta, and Rb.

Analytical results from the rock chip samples have been received by the Company, with significant results from numerous areas that require follow up work. Figure 3 shows the rock sample that returned 17.6% copper and Figure 4 shows the sample location that returned 1.275g/t Au.

Figure 3: Horrie Hoars Gold Mine. Malachite & rare azurite in Pelite from location 556979mE 6515472mN 556979mE

 

Figure 4: Horrie Hoars Gold Mine which returned the 1.275g/t Au sample from 558881mE 6520483mN

 

Significant results from all of the 152 rock chip samples received are shown in Table 1 and 2.  Table 1 shows the base metal results and Table 2 shows the critical metal results.

Table 1: Significant base metal results from the most recent rock sampling

Sample	Au_ppm	Ag_ppm	Cu_ppm	Pb_ppm	Cu_%
21RKTR0121	0.040	5	260	7050
21RKTR0122	1.145	2	50	240
21RKTR0123	1.275	3	2680	4060
21RKTR0130	0.079	2	24700	30
21RKTR0133	0.037	4	11700	20
21RKTR0134	0.657	5	>100000	80	17.60
21RKTR0139	0.084	9	26800	20
21RKTR0142	0.022	1	2530	<20
21RKTR0143	0.047	3	8290	<20
21RKTR0147	0.004	<1	2210	30
21RKTR0148	0.028	3	1950	30
21RKTR0149	0.052	8	1040	30
21RKTR0150	0.02	1	1100	20
21RKTR0151	0.077	1	1320	40
21RKTR0152	0.322	3	84400	470

Table 2: Assay results of the Critical metals

Sample	Li_%	Cs_ppm	Nb_ppm	Rb_ppm	Sn_ppm	Ta_ppm	Th_ppm	U_ppm	Sn_%
21RKTR0016	0.033	426	1080	2310	247	391	3.3	49.5
21RKTR0078	0.014	26.5	204	338	43	45	12.7	9.5
21RKTR0018	0.02	148	141	1745	245	57.6	0.8	12.4
21RKTR0008	0.027	202	80	2560	341	33.3	<0.5	0.9
21RKTR0047	0.004	33.1	30	556	1080	30.7	1	0.8
21RKTR0006	0.063	380	199	1420	104	203	4.5	21.5
21RKTR0044	0.031	100	62	1115	1050	75.4	2.1	2.4
21RKTR0113	0.005	183.5	70	2220	3070	96.8	1.4	3.2
21RKTR0114	0.02	560	48	2960	155	77.3	0.6	5.6
21RKTR0059	0.003	82.9	69	479	1140	100.5	2	3.5
21RKTR0091	0.024	90.2	52	1670	1100	84.1	<0.5	4.1
21RKTR0112	0.005	223	273	3080	>10000	317	0.9	3.9	2.44
21RKTR0060	0.004	46.1	75	374	1260	119.5	1.8	5.5
21RKTR0105	0.010	73.5	111	715	6290	165	1.3	5.4
21RKTR0012	0.008	136	189	1125	>10000	258	0.8	8.4	1.60
21RKTR0115	0.005	267	89	2300	2950	179	1.1	2.6
21RKTR0046	0.024	236	55	1855	1190	151.5	0.8	2.1
21RKTR0116	0.010	188.5	65	1610	1500	176.5	1	5.1
21RKTR0049	0.005	223	95	1105	805	225	4.9	7.3
21RKTR0050	0.007	157	91	725	210	236	11	9.4
21RKTR0111	0.003	156	113	1320	169	260	2.4	3.9
21RKTR0097	0.013	153	169	794	6290	396	1.1	4.8
21RKTR0100	0.005	50	192	509	>10000	422	1.3	4.8	1.21
21RKTR0051	0.012	304	70	1205	627	302	5.2	7
21RKTR0102	0.011	44.4	50	546	1890	294	2.5	9.3
21RKTR0099	0.006	67	168	543	4580	425	1.9	14.2
21RKTR0003	0.028	138	311	981	248	676	1.1	9.5
21RKTR0108	0.011	73.2	203	916	>10000	582	1.2	3.8	2.31
21RKTR0103	0.026	173	179	1445	1540	641	5.3	11

Trident lithium Sampling Program Background

As recently reported (see ASX release dated 16 September 2021), TSC’s technical team has compiled extensive amounts of historical geochemical data regarding the Trident Project area from the NSW MinView geological database, which led to the identification of multiple potential new lithium and tin geological targets.

The pegmatites identified within the field have been sampled by previous explorers^{1,2 &3} and show that lithium occurs within amblygonite, and lesser lepidolite which are both important minerals for lithium mining, also historically, sporadic tin mining occurred in the Euriowie Tin Field from the 1880’s to 1970’s, leaving the area littered with evidence of old workings.

The initial visual observations were encouraging on the presence of lithium minerals, particularly amblygonite, however on receiving the assay results it has shown that lithium bearing minerals are not present within the pegmatites, with a 5m chip sample returning only 0.25% LiO₂.  The assay technique that was undertaken on the TSC samples is Na₂O₂ peroxide fusion by ICP-AES finish which is seen as a total digesting technique and is a good analysis for lithium, as well as other resistive minerals.

TSCs geology team are undertaking further analysis to determine why the current results are different from the historical reported results.

Pegmatite classification

Classification of pegmatites can be split into different types, NYF (Niobium-Yttrium-Fluorine) and LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) pegmatite.  The NYF family of pegmatites is based on compositional characteristics that are related to the source (provenance) of the original magma and the chemical evolution of the magma as components are removed and others are concentrated as fractional crystallisation and differentiation occur. These three elements (NYF) are the most notably enriched; however, other rare elements are also characteristically elevated in their concentration. yttrium and the lanthanides are Rare Earth Elements (REE), all of which have similar geochemical behaviour; consequently, NYF pegmatites are usually enriched in all of the REE. Elevated concentrations of Sc, Zr, U, and Th are also typical, (Rakovan 2008⁴).

A good breakdown of the different classifications of pegmatites are shown in Table 1^{5 &6}.  Within the NYF pegmatites; Y, REE, Cs, Be, Ga, Nb, Ta and F elements that can be enriched due to crystallisation of the pegmatites.  From the assay results received to date, most of these elements mentioned above are enriched and show the potential for Trident to host significant NYF pegmatites.

Figure 5: Table of pegmatite classifications. After Cerný, P. 1991, and modified from Simmons et al. 2003

Next Steps

TSCs intended next steps over the coming months include the following:

• Plan further infill geochemical sampling around the high-grade copper, gold and tin rock sample results,
• Submit selective samples for REE analysis,
• Visit the Perseus tenement once mustering allows access,
• Commence drilling key anomalies at the Rover Project in WA,
• Receive assay results from Rover, and
• Drilling scheduled for NSW Midas project February 2022.

 

References

1. Visual identification of amblygonite is problematic therefore field identification my not correspond to laboratory assays.
2. Dukovic, T. (2017) Annual Report for EL8468 for the Period 22 September 2016 to September 2017. Unpublished Report Mica Exploration Areas Pty Ltd, GSNSW Report GS2018_0298_RE0010150_ALL.EL8468 Annual Exploration Report 2017.
3. Refer to ASX announcement dated 16^th September 2021: Lithium and Tin Targets Identified at Trident Project, NSW
4. Rakovan, J. 2003. Word to the Wise: Pegmatite. Rocks & Minerals, Volume 83 July/August 2008
5. Cerný, P. 1991. Rare-element granitic pegmatites. Part I: Anatomy ˇ and internal evolution of pegmatite deposits. Part 2: Regional to global environments and petrogenesis. Geoscience Canada 18:49–81.
6. Simmons, W., K. Webber, A. U. Falster, and J. Nizamoff. 2003. Pegmatology: Pegmatite mineralogy, petrology and petrogenesis. New Orleans, LA: Rubellite Press.