- Eclipse Metals (EPM) has located previously unknown near-surface manganese mineralisation at its Amamoor prospect within the Mary Valley project
- The drilling program comprised six diamond drill holes totalling 97.6 metres, and all holes encountered significant manganese mineralisation
- Results peaked at 1.5 metres at 42.14 per cent manganese oxide (MnO) and 1 metre at 33.81 per cent MnO, both from the surface
- The next phase of exploration will include the collection of a bulk sample from the Central area of old workings for metallurgical and beneficiation testwork
- Manganese ores are easily refined to saleable grades through simple processes
- EPM plans to exploit the Amamoor mineralisation through a larger-scale bulk mining operation which would be the most efficient way to exploit the site
- Eclipse metals closed Tuesday’s session 12.5 per cent higher at 0.9 cents per share
Eclipse Metals (EPM) has located previously unknown near-surface manganese mineralisation at the Amamoor prospect at its Mary Valley project.
Strong results
A recent program of shallow drilling returned results peaking at 1.5 metres at 42.14 per cent manganese oxide (MnO) and 1 metre at 33.81 per cent MnO, both from the surface.
The program comprised six diamond drill holes totalling 97.6 metres, and all holes encountered significant manganese mineralisation.
The next phase of exploration will include the collection of a bulk sample from the Central area of old workings for metallurgical and beneficiation testwork.
The next steps
The beneficiation of manganese ores is generally a fairly simple process due to the fact manganese minerals are significantly denser than their enclosing rock formations.
This means they can be readily separated by gravity and magnetic processes to produce a saleable product.
Raw feed with a bulk grade of only 7-to-10 per cent MnO may be upgraded to 35 or 40 per cent by such processes.
Eclipse Chairman Carl Popal says the Amamoor mineralisation is a welcome addition to the company’s diversified metals portfolio, providing upside in the current market climate.
“Eclipse is well focused on growth in metals required by the green energy sector and is looking for global opportunities to complement its Australian projects,” Carl said.
“We are now intent on developing the company into a near-term producer which will complement the outstanding project portfolio towards more capital growth,” he said.
“While the uranium market is proving to be more static than some of the other commodities, Eclipse’s share price has witnessed a significant uplift by having a diverse portfolio of assets focused on green energy metals during these exceptional times,” Carl concluded.
Eclipse will next conduct a complete assessment of all previous and recent drill intersections, as well as the geological environment and structure, to gain a more profound understanding of the mineralisation at Amamoor.
High-grade mineralisation with any benificiation potential will be assessed for its potential exploitation.
Bulk sampling procedures will also be assessed in the coming weeks as the company decides if Amamoor lends itself to larger-scale bulk mining, which would be the most efficient way to exploit the manganese ores.
Eclipse metals closed Tuesday’s session 12.5 per cent higher at 0.9 cents per share.