Ardiden Limited (ASX: ADV)
New graphite exploration programs commence at Manitouwadge, Canada
Structural interpretation and mapping to pave way for drilling; all data generated to be integrated into a maiden resource model
HIGHLIGHTS:
Ardiden’s geological team is now on the ground at the Manitouwadge Flake Graphite Project in Ontario, Canada.
The initial focus is to complete structural interpretation and mapping of the high grade zones at the Silver Star North and Silver Birch prospects.
The results will be used to ground-truth the 2015 drilling results to identify extensions of the high grade graphite zones and define further targets ahead of the next phase of drilling. All data collected will be included in any future resource models.
Ardiden Limited (ASX: ADV) is pleased to advise that the next phase of exploration has commenced at its 100% owned Manitouwadge Flake Graphite Project in Ontario, Canada with its exploration team currently on the ground at the Silver Star North prospect conducting structural interpretation and mapping programs.
Figure 1. Location of Ardiden Projects (Root Lake Lithium, Seymour Lake Lithium, Manitouwadge Graphite) in Ontario, Canada. All projects are able to be serviced from Thunder Bay which is less than 100kms from the US border.
Figure 2. Claims map for Manitouwadge Graphite project, highlighting the Silver Birch and Silver Star North prospects.
Once the current phase of work has been completed at Silver Star North, the geological team will move across to commence a limited program of structural interpretation and exploration at the Silver Birch prospect.
Ardiden notes that the commencement of this phase of exploration program at the Manitouwadge project has been delayed this year due to the heavy work load associated with the due diligence, acquisition and development of the Company’s two key lithium projects of Root Lake and Seymour Lake.
The initial focus of the current program at Manitouwadge is to undertake a full structural interpretation of the drill core with a specific focus on the continuity of the identified high tenor jumbo flake graphite zones at both the Silver Star North and Silver Birch prospects.
As announced by Ardiden on 5 January 2016, the 2015 drilling program at the Silver Star North prospect consisted of 2,000m of diamond drilling which intersected numerous high grade graphite zones, returning grades of up to 14.19% Total Graphite Carbon (TGC).
Figure 3. Silver Star North with drill holes and grades noted
A petrographic review of the drill core samples from the Silver Star North prospect also confirmed the high quality potential of the graphite zones.
This analysis confirmed the presence of jumbo (>300 microns) and super jumbo (>500 microns) graphite flakes with some flakes measuring up to 4,200 microns. The presence of these jumbo and super-jumbo graphite flakes at the project has the potential to attract a significant price premium compared with the more commonly found fine and medium flake graphite.
Figure 4: Petrographic slices from EM 12-05 – Flake size of 4,209 micron on left and 3,315 micron on right. Super jumbo graphite is defined as graphite with a flake size of >500 microns. (Source: Vancouver Petrographics, as announced to the ASX on 5 January 2016)
Figure 5: Graphite core from Ardiden drilling at Manitouwadge graphite project in Ontario, Canada (Hole EM 12-05 at Silver Star Prospect, as announced to the ASX on 5 January 2016)
Some of the high-grade graphite mineralisation zones intersected during the 2015 drilling program were identified some 50 metres below surface, which could reduce the potential to recover economic graphite ore.
The results obtained from this current exploration and review program will therefore assist Ardiden to structurally orientate the 2015 drilling core and to ground truth potential extensions of the high-grade graphite mineralisation zones located at or close to surface.
Finally, this program will also help Ardiden to further define and prepare additional drill-ready targets ahead of the next phase of drilling on the project. All data collected will be included in any future resource models.
Ardiden looks forward to providing further updates and results from this exploration programs as they
ADV Price at posting:
1.7¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
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