Mount Burgess (ASX:MTB) reports consistency of gallium mineralisation at Kihabe - Kalkine Media

Highlights

• Mount Burgess has concluded an in-depth review of gallium assay results in both oxide and sulphide zones at the Kihabe Deposit
• As per results, around 1,368.35m of gallium mineralisation at an average grade of 12g/t can be added to the Zn/Pb/Ag/V₂O₅ mineralised zones
• There is consistency of gallium mineralisation, according to the review of Kihabe drill hole sections
• The company plans test work to determine the recovery of gallium and germanium on site

Australian mineral exploration player Mount Burgess Mining NL (ASX:MTB) has completed an in-depth review of gallium assay results in both the oxide and sulphide zones at the Kihabe Deposit. The latest review has revealed 11 additional holes assayed for gallium.

As per the review of the Kihabe drill hole sections, there is consistency of gallium mineralisation. The zones of gallium mineralisation need to be excavated during extraction of Zn/Pb/Ag/V₂O₅ mineralisation.

Data source: Company update; Image source: © 2023 Krish Capital Pty. Ltd., © Radius06 | Megapixl.com

Kihabe Resource Estimate – Gallium credits

In August 2022, MTB had revealed that the Kihabe Mineral Resource was updated, estimated as per the 2012 JORC Code. Evaluated only for Zn/Pb/Ag/ V₂O₅ content, the Mineral Resource highlighted metal mineralisation of 321,000 tonnes of zinc, 154,000 tonnes of lead, 5.4 million ounces of silver and 10,000 tonnes of vanadium pentoxide.

The review indicated that just 18 holes drilled along the entire 2.4km length of the Kihabe Deposit were assayed for gallium.

Gallium results from seven of the holes, which were drilled in 2017 into the oxide zone, were previously released to ASX on 25 May 2022, highlighting that 330.35m of gallium mineralisation at an average grade of 12.1g/t can be added to the Zn/Pb/Ag/ V₂O₅ mineralised zones. This included 83.7m of gallium mineralisation, within or extending beyond the Zn/Pb/Ag/ V₂O₅ mineralised zones, averaging 12m per hole. 

Data source: Company update

Test work to determine gallium and germanium recovery on site

In March 2022, MTB had confirmed the results of the mineralogical work that was conducted by the University of Tasmania on gallium and germanium samples from the Kihabe Deposit.

The results showed gallium and germanium were primarily hosted within muscovite (mica) - gallium possibly hosted in Al and K mica and germanium likely hosted in iron mica. Both are not directly associated with zinc mineralisation. Mica in the form of flakes is amenable to flotation, which generally results in a high recovery as a concentrate.

Core samples from holes drilled into the Kihabe Deposit in 2017 have reached Australia. Further test work will be carried off to find out how gallium and germanium can be recovered on site.

MTB shares last traded at AU$0.003 on the ASX on 9 January 2023 with market capitalisation of AU$3.09 million.