AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX:RTR) has announced an exciting development at its Western Queen project, adding momentum to the project's growth potential near Mt Magnet in Western Australia. This discovery comes just two weeks after Rumble reported a new high-grade gold system at Western Queen.
Recent drilling at Western Queen has uncovered high-grade tungsten mineralization along with gold. Notably, one drill hole intersected 4 meters at 4.58% tungsten trioxide (WO3) and 0.72 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from a depth of 174.85 meters. This interval included 2.05 meters at 8.71% WO3 and 1.38 g/t gold, and 0.65 meters at 18.35% WO3 and 2.97 g/t gold. This discovery highlights the promising potential of Rumble Resources in the mining sector.
A thorough review of pXRF data indicates that tungsten is widespread within the Western Queen gold system. Significant tungsten concentrations have been detected at surface locations between the Western Queen South and Western Queen Central open pits, with widths reaching up to 20 meters.
Peter Harold, Managing Director and CEO of Rumble, remarked, “The discovery of high-grade tungsten at Western Queen is an unexpected bonus. While it is still early, the grades of these intersections are exceptional and stand out compared to other global tungsten resources.”
Upcoming Results and Resource Potential
Follow-up wet assays for tungsten from selected pulps from reverse circulation and diamond drilling, which were part of the 2021 mineral resource estimate at Western Queen, have been submitted. Results will be announced as soon as they are available.
The pXRF analytical data has shown that 87 reverse circulation and diamond drill holes completed by Rumble have reported at least 500 ppm tungsten (W). However, it is important to note that results from pXRF analysers are indicative and may not reflect the true tungsten grade.
Harold added, “We are eagerly awaiting results from the 2021 drill pulps. This discovery highlights the significant potential of the Rumble tenements and the capabilities of our experienced exploration team.”
Strategic Importance of Tungsten
Tungsten is classified as a critical raw material due to its high economic importance and supply risks. Its various alloys are essential in transport, mining, photovoltaic cells, hydrogen fuel cells, and more. The global tungsten supply, currently at 78,000 tonnes annually, is heavily reliant on China, which produces 81% of the world’s tungsten. Forecast demand for tungsten is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.5%, with some projections reaching up to 8%.
Expanding the Resource
In addition to tungsten, the latest drilling results at Western Queen reinforce the continuity of high-grade gold mineralization down-plunge from the Western Queen Central and South deposits. Rumble plans further testing and will update the mineral resource estimate following this drilling phase.
Historically, Western Queen has produced 880,000 tonnes at 7.6 g/t gold, amounting to 215,000 ounces. The current mineral resource stands at 2.1 million tonnes at 2.42 g/t gold for 163,000 ounces and remains open at depth and along strike. The deposits are associated with a significant geological zone, similar to Spartan Resources Ltd's (ASX:SPR) Never lode, which has a resource of 5.16 million tonnes at 5.74 g/t gold, totaling 953,000 ounces.
Zinc Exploration at Earaheedy
Rumble’s Earaheedy project, one of the largest zinc sulphide discoveries in the past decade, is also making progress. Ongoing metallurgical test work and scoping studies have confirmed high recoveries and marketable concentrate grades. The Earaheedy project, located in WA’s Goldfields region, has an existing resource of 94 million tonnes with contained metals of 2.2 million tonnes of zinc, 0.7 million tonnes of lead, and 12.6 million ounces of silver. The project is expected to be a low-cost, open-pit mining and processing operation.
These developments at Western Queen and Earaheedy highlight Rumble Resources Ltd's significant exploration achievements and potential growth opportunities in the resource sector.
