Alchemy Resources Limited (ASX: ALY) has received promising results from detailed ground gravity surveying at the company’s Hickory prospect at the Karonie Project in Western Australia.
Data from the survey has successfully mapped out pegmatites under alluvial cover and suggest extensions to the north of the existing mapped pegmatite locations.
The ground gravity survey was completed in December 2022 with custom data processing by Perth-based consultancy NewGen Geo, which specialises in the application of geophysics to pegmatite exploration.
The high resolution gravity survey measures variations in the earth’s gravity field caused by differences in rock density. Lower density pegmatites intruded into higher density metamorphosed mafics at Hickory are expected to be expressed as a gravity low response. The gravity data, together with known pegmatite locations from drilling and mapping, were used to interpret the northern extensions and outline new targets for follow up work.
“We are extremely pleased with how well the gravity survey has managed to map out the extensions of pegmatites at Hickory,” CEO, James Wilson, said.
“The learnings and knowledge gained from this survey will be used to help map out pegmatites at our other high priority lithium targets at Karonie. With approximately 4km of alluvial cover northwards to Pecan, we are excited to begin using gravity and high resolution drone magnetics technology to aid in mapping out the pegmatite system to the north.”
At Hickory the lower density pegmatites intrude into higher density mafics. Pegmatites are interpreted as the gravity lows that trend towards the north from the existing pegmatite drill intercepts. Known pegmatite locations from drilling and mapping were used to interpret the extensions. Multiple previously unknown pegmatite targets have been generated.
The high resolution ground gravity survey was completed in December 2022 by NewGen Geo, with data being collected on a 10m station spacing along 40m spaced lines. The data was processed and analyzed by Perth-based geophysics consultancy NewGen Geo which specializes in the application of geophysics to pegmatite exploration.
Alchemy has commenced planning for a larger expanded gravity survey to map the prospective structures under cover over a 5.4km x 1.6km area towards Pecan prospect. The expanded survey will also extend to the west and east of the existing mapped pegmatites as it is believed the system remains open in all directions.
The processed gravity data suggests that the pegmatites that were intercepted in the 2022 Hickory drilling continue striking north towards the favourable structures., and the survey will assess the potential for pegmatites within the favourable north-east trending structures that can be seen in Figure 3 and 4. Structural weaknesses are an important factor for the formation of Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite systems.
Next Steps
• Extend the gravity survey area to further map pegmatites under cover towards the Mesquite and Pecan prospects
• Conduct high resolution drone magnetics survey to better define favourable structures at Mesquite and Pecan
• Continue detailed mapping in the areas north of Hickory to further enhance the geological model
• Commence mapping and sampling of regional lithium tenure at E28/2681 and E28/2667
• XRD analysis of drill samples to further enhance the understanding of the pegmatite mineralogy of recent drilling
• Planning underway for follow-up reconnaissance mapping and sampling of Lake Rebecca tenure
For further information please visit: https://alchemyresources.com.au/
