Gold & Niobium Rock Chip Results from the Lolworth Project
LONDON, August 15, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
ECR MINERALS plc
("ECR Minerals", "ECR" or the "Company")
Gold and Niobium Rock Chip Results from the Lolworth Project, Queensland
ECR Minerals plc (LON: ECR), the exploration and development company focused on gold in Australia, is pleased to announce the results from the first batch of rock chips at the Lolworth Project, Queensland.
ECR Minerals plc has 100% ownership of three exploration tenements (EPM27901, EPM27902 and EPM27903), which covers the Lolworth Range, located 120km west of the famous gold district of Charters Towers. Previous exploration campaigns from 2021 have identified the presence of Gold (Au), Niobium-Tantalum (Nb-Ta) and REE mineralisation within the licenced area. The project is being explored under ECR’s Australian wholly owned subsidiary Lux Exploration Pty Ltd ("LUX").
HIGHLIGHTS
Gold results from outcrop in the Reedy Creek area of 22 g/t Au and 0.54 g/t Au.
Niobium results up to 96.7 ppm from Pegmatite outcrops in the headwaters of Oaky Creek.
CEO Andrew Haythorpe commented: "Further great work from Adam Jones and the field team in collating and defining the key areas of interest at our Lolworth project. Exploring and mapping a large area of virgin territory requires an organised and disciplined approach, but it is rapidly becoming evident that thanks to the diligence of our field team, we are zeroing in on areas with high potential at Oaky Creek and Reedy Creek."
I look forward to reporting further news in the coming weeks."
(Figure One) Map of the anomalous Niobium areas identified from soil sampling and rock chips to date in the headwaters of Oaky Creek:
Figure One: https://www.ecrminerals.com/images/2023/Fig1_Nb_Chips_230815.png
NIOBIUM ROCK CHIP RESULTS
A total of 74 rock chips were taken from outcropping pegmatites that abound within a highly anomalous niobium stream catchment area forming part of the upper end of Oaky Creek. Previous results from this stream for Niobium and Tantalum indicated the mineralisation source was likely to exist within the amphitheatre of this ridgeline (see Figure One above), and this was supported by pXRF analysis of soil samples taken and analysed with our hand held pXRF device (see announcement dated July 22 2023 here). The best Niobium samples were located on the western edge of the drainage area (see Figure One), and it was noted that these pegmatites had been silicified and albatised. Results up to 96.7 ppm Nb were recorded, along with results across a further twelve samples all greater than 50 ppm Nb. Our team continue to systematically work across a large area, collecting further rock chip samples, and the Board believes that the combination of previous soil sample results and follow-up rock chip samples could ultimately lead our team to a potential source of mineralisation.
REEDY CREEK AREA
Reedy Creek has been a focus for gold mineralisation for the ECR field team. An initial selection of 28 rock chip samples were taken from the hill slopes within the catchment area where visible coarse gold had been noted in the pan concentrate samples and where gold nuggets were located on the slopes above the best pan concentrate results. Only two rock chip samples to date have shown gold mineralisation, with a best result of 22 g/t Au obtained from a large quartz outcrop on one of the hillsides. A rock chip sample returning 0.54 g/t Au was obtained from a narrow quartz sub-crop residing on a spur ridge situated between two gold bearing creek drainages. The Board have concluded that the Reedy Creek area is host to gold mineralisation only.
FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES
The field team has now moved further to the south of the project area to follow up gold bearing drainages. Prior to this move, a further batch of stream samples were submitted from streams on the western and southern side of Reedy Creek, some of which showed visible gold. The Board believes this could lead to another potential anomalous gold bearing area.
A programme of further defined soil sampling has been undertaken across the best results previously identified from the preliminary soil grid. These will be also analysed for Niobium by pXRF this month. The Board believes that these results will guide to better outcrops, that can in turn be followed up with rock chip sampling to confirm the presence of Niobium. The timing of this work is governed by cattle mustering activities in the area, but nonetheless it is expected that the work will be completed within the next few weeks.
Exploration is also continuing to the south of Reedy Creek on an adjoining cattle grazing property. The creeks observed within the area are geologically similar to Reedy Creek where coarse gold is present. The field team will map the area and take rock chips from the creek headwaters during the month, with results expected approximately 15 days from the samples arriving at the laboratory.
Separately, a large rock chip programme is scheduled to commence shortly at the Hurricane Project, located 400km north of the Lolworth Project.
REVIEW OF ANNOUNCEMENT BY QUALIFIED PERSON
This announcement has been reviewed by Adam Jones, Technical Director of Exploration at ECR Minerals plc. Adam Jones is a professional geologist and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG). He is a qualified person as that term is defined by the AIM Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
ECR Minerals plc
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7929 1010
David Tang, Non-Executive Chairman
Andrew Haythorpe, CEO
Email:
Website: www.ecrminerals.com
WH Ireland Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 207 220 1666
Nominated Adviser
Katy Mitchell / Andrew de Andrade
SI Capital Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 413500
Broker
Nick Emerson
Novum Securities Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7399 9425
Broker
Jon Belliss
Brand Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 7976 431608
Public & Investor Relations
Alan Green
ABOUT ECR MINERALS PLC
ECR Minerals is a mineral exploration and development company. ECR’s wholly owned Australian subsidiary Mercator Gold Australia Pty Ltd ("MGA") has 100% ownership of the Bailieston and Creswick gold projects in central Victoria, Australia, has six licence applications outstanding which includes one licence application lodged in eastern Victoria. (Tambo gold project). MGA is currently drilling at the Bailieston Blue Moon Project (EL5433) and undertaking geochemical exploration on the Creswick (EL6148) project and has an experienced exploration team with significant local knowledge in the Victoria Goldfields and wider region.
ECR also owns 100% of an Australian subsidiary LUX Exploration Pty Ltd ("LUX") which has three approved exploration permits covering 946 km2 over a relatively unexplored area in Queensland, Australia.
Following the sale of the Avoca, Moormbool and Timor gold projects in Victoria, Australia to Fosterville South Exploration Ltd (TSX-V: FSX) and the subsequent spin-out of the Avoca and Timor projects to Leviathan Gold Ltd (TSX-V: LVX), Mercator Gold Australia Pty Limited has the right to receive up to A$2 million in payments subject to future resource estimation or production from projects sold to Fosterville South Exploration Limited.
ECR holds a 90% interest in the Danglay gold project; an advanced exploration project located in a prolific gold and copper mining district in the north of the Philippines, which has a 43-101 compliant resource. ECR also holds a royalty on the SLM gold project in La Rioja Province, Argentina and can potentially receive up to US$2.7 million in aggregate across all licences.
APPENDIX ONE
TABLE ONE: All Gold and Niobium results from rock chips, Lolworth Project, QLD.
(Locations reported as GDA94 Zone 55).
1ppm = 1 g/t.
Analysis not undertaken for samples noted (n/a)
SampleID
Easting
Northing
Au ppm
Nb ppm
Prospect
LWC042
313494
7756228
0.01
27.5
Oaky Creek
LWC043
313502
7756240
0.01
17.3
Oaky Creek
LWC044
313499
7756246
0.01
19.75
Oaky Creek
LWC045
313527
7756275
0.01
19.35
Oaky Creek
LWC046
313486
7756222
0.01
28.1
Oaky Creek
LWC047
313483
7756249
0.01
17.25
Oaky Creek
LWC048
313460
7756240
0.01
24
Oaky Creek
LWC049
313442
7756225
0.01
60.3
Oaky Creek
LWC050
313421
7756226
0.01
48.4
Oaky Creek
LWC051
313696
7756260
0.01
18.4
Oaky Creek
LWC052
313684
7756253
0.01
22.5
Oaky Creek
LWC053
313679
7756246
0.01
33.7
Oaky Creek
LWC054
313716
7756272
0.01
29
Oaky Creek
LWC055
313708
7756260
0.01
47.9
Oaky Creek
LWC056
313779
7756324
0.01
27
Oaky Creek
LWC057
313798
7756332
0.01
21.6
Oaky Creek
LWC058
313786
7756326
0.01
12.15
Oaky Creek
LWC059
313791
7756330
0.01
21.5
Oaky Creek
LWC060
313781
7756381
0.01
18.7
Oaky Creek
LWC061
313747
7756393
0.01
47.3
Oaky Creek
LWC062
313728
7756366
0.01
39.1
Oaky Creek
LWC063
313731
7756367
0.01
48.8
Oaky Creek
LWC064
313597
7756418
0.01
48.3
Oaky Creek
LWC065
313585
7756484
0.01
16.6
Oaky Creek
LWC066
313589
7756487
0.01
26.1
Oaky Creek
LWC067
313593
7756487
0.01
20.9
Oaky Creek
LWC068
313609
7756499
0.01
66.8
Oaky Creek
LWC069
313592
7756496
0.01
29.9
Oaky Creek
LWC070
313575
7756496
0.01
9.49
Oaky Creek
LWC071
313577
7756506
0.01
69.9
Oaky Creek
LWC072
313568
7756503
0.01
52.4
Oaky Creek
LWC073
313562
7756501
0.01
53.5
Oaky Creek
LWC074
313544
7756505
0.01
89.9
Oaky Creek
LWC075
313527
7756510
0.01
38.4
Oaky Creek
LWC076
313494
7756524
0.01
26.5
Oaky Creek
LWC077
313477
7756523
0.01
30.4
Oaky Creek
LWC078
313346
7756354
0.01
49
Oaky Creek
LWC079
313337
7756337
0.01
35.2
Oaky Creek
LWC080
313326
7756341
0.01
50.5
Oaky Creek
LWC081
313342
7756316
0.01
43
Oaky Creek
LWC082
313329
7756400
0.01
50
Oaky Creek
LWC083
313322
7756402
0.01
33
Oaky Creek
LWC084
313328
7756381
0.01
54.9
Oaky Creek
LWC085
313346
7756406
0.01
54.9
Oaky Creek
LWC086
313292
7756509
0.01
24.4
Oaky Creek
LWC087
313320
7756543
0.01
24.1
Oaky Creek
LWC088
313344
7756629
0.01
21.2
Oaky Creek
LWC089
313348
7756718
0.01
21.5
Oaky Creek
LWC090
313415
7756749
0.01
25.2
Oaky Creek
LWC091
313457
7756716
0.01
35.9
Oaky Creek
LWC092
313245
7756755
0.01
55.8
Oaky Creek
LWC093
312788
7756921
0.01
38.1
Oaky Creek
LWC094
312982
7756984
0.01
48.2
Oaky Creek
LWC095
313321
7756855
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC096
313319
7756855
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC097
313334
7756840
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC098
313337
7756838
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC099
313344
7756830
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC100
313325
7756851
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC101
313280
7756885
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC102
313277
7756885
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC103
313275
7756887
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC104
313690
7757013
0.01
11.7
Oaky Creek
LWC105
313813
7756797
0.01
96.7
Oaky Creek
LWC106
314005
7756979
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC107
314006
7756983
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC108
313992
7757001
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC109
313987
7757009
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC110
313978
7757036
0.01
n/a
Oaky Creek
LWC111
312980
7755519
0.01
n/a
LWC112
312926
7755451
0.01
n/a
LWC113
312921
7755432
0.01
n/a
LWC114
312914
7755419
0.15
n/a
LWC115
312915
7755425
0.04
n/a
LWC116
309981
7751194
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC117
309625
7750905
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC118
309572
7750895
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC119
309462
7751029
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC120
309566
7751038
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC121
309563
7751039
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC122
309560
7751034
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC123
308911
7751039
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC124
309346
7750941
0.06
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC125
309346
7750941
0.04
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC126
309346
7750941
22
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC127
309345
7750936
0.02
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC128
309341
7750932
0.13
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC129
309314
7750910
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC130
309308
7750910
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC131
309234
7750811
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC132
309371
7750807
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC133
309330
7750867
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC134
309360
7750937
0.02
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC135
309413
7751029
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC136
309408
7751026
0.54
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC137
309425
7750721
0.02
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC138
309439
7750768
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC139
309441
7750766
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC140
309444
7750763
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC141
309444
7750807
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC142
309442
7750808
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC143
309443
7750807
0.01
n/a
Reedy Creek
LWC144
313202
7757630
0.01
21.6
Oaky Creek Nb-Ta
LWCA38
313651
7756090
0.01
13.2
Oaky Creek
LWCA39
313639
7756200
0.01
27.8
Oaky Creek
LWCA40
313488
7756224
0.01
23.1
Oaky Creek
LWCA41
313477
7756220
0.01
27.4
Oaky Creek
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