Specialty metals explorer and developer Pan Asia Metals Limited has provided an update on the drilling program at the Khao Soon Tungsten Project (KSTP) located in southern Thailand.
KSTP is one of PAM’s key assets and a significant historical producer. Modern exploration has discovered potentially world-class, district-scale tungsten mineralisation across numerous prospects.
PAM outlines that reconnaissance diamond drilling conducted by the company has intersected robust widths and grades associated with strong surface anomalies, from which Exploration Targets have been estimated.
PAM has completed 11 holes for a total of 880m over both prospects. At the Target 2 Prospect, nine holes were completed for a total of 773.3m.
Drilling is now underway at the Than Pho West (TPW) Prospect where two holes have been completed for a total of 107.6m. Details of the drill hole collars and spot hand-held X-ray fluorescence analysis (spot hhXRF) are included in Table’s 1 and 2 respectively.
PAM uses a Delta Olympus Premium hhXRF device which utilises an X-ray fluorescence tube to take relatively rapid (30 second) measurements over an area of approximately 20mm2 to report up to 36 elements.
The company conducts routine spot hhXRF analysis at regular spacings along the drill core, especially in areas of enriched tungsten where sample points are typically spaced from 0.1-0.3m.
In this case, the hhXRF is used by PAM geologists to take readings on drill core to evaluate the tenor of the contained tungsten mineralisation and other associated pathfinder elements. This assists with on-site decision making and in the selection of intervals to sample and dispatch for laboratory analysis.
Spot hhXRF readings on the drill core are yet to verified by an independent laboratory and the company outlines that the hhXRF results are not formal assays but are preliminary estimates of tungsten grades only, and require confirmation by appropriate sampling and independent laboratory analysis.
However, based on extensive QA/QC conducted by PAM during previous drilling campaigns at Khao Soon, it is PAM’s experience that the spot hhXRF analysis does provide a relatively good indication of tungsten grades when compared to those reported from laboratory analysis. This is especially the case in more weathered mineralisation.
Below are some drilling highlights from the announcement:
- Drilling at the Target 2 prospect has identified a 270m long mineralised zone which remains open
- In-fill drilling at the Than Pho West prospect intersects high-grade tungsten mineralisation
- Than Pho West hhXRF values in the weathered mineralised zone averaging 0.3 per cent tungsten trioxide (WO3) with numerous higher-grade intervals
- Than Pho in-fill results include:
KSDD032: 31.6m at 0.28 per cent WO3 from surface, incl. 8.6m at 0.53 per cent WO3 from 13.3m
KSDD032: 26.7m at 0.25 per cent WO3 from 38.1m, incl. 5.8m at 0.53 per cent WO3 from 58.8m
KSDD033: 25.8m at 0.32 per cent WO3 from surface, incl. 4.4m at 0.74 per cent WO3 from 13.3m - True width of mineralised zone is up to 50m, commencing at surface
PAM Managing Director, Paul Lock, said the Khao Soon drilling program is delivering the results required to allow PAM to move toward scoping and feasibility studies.
“PAM has some work to do at Khao Soon before it is positioned to deliver an inaugural JORC Resource. We are also excited to be starting a small drill program at the Minter Tungsten Project before Christmas and the Reung Kiet Lithium Project in early 2021.”
The full announcement can be found here.
