Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX:GXY) Airborne Survey At West Kundip Manganese Project
Perth, Mar 9, 2010 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Galaxy Resources Limited (
ASX:GXY) (PINK:GALXF) is pleased to announce that it has commenced exploration on its West Kundip manganese project tenements with the completion of a VTEM airborne electromagnetic survey.
The two mining leases (M74/133 and M74/238) comprising Galaxy's West Kundip Manganese Project were granted recently and are located approximately 15km south of Ravensthorpe. The leases cover a sequence of Proterozoic sediments including dolomite units, which are prospective for manganese mineralisation. Work conducted by Galaxy several years ago, prior to the tenements being converted to mining leases, outlined the presence of scattered pods of high grade manganese mineralisation.
The VTEM survey has defined several anomalous zones potentially related to bedrock conductors which could represent targets for manganese mineralisation. An anomaly in the south west of the area lies adjacent to previous drilling which has intersected pod zones of high grade manganese mineralisation. However, existing drilling has not tested the main portion of the centre of the anomaly, or any of the other target zones.
Final processing and interpretation of the geophysical data is almost complete. Galaxy is planning follow up ground checking and mapping of the target areas, and is progressing required environmental and aboriginal heritage approvals in order to carry out drill testing.
The mineralisation at West Kundip is considered to be of a similar style to Woodie Woodie, which is a significant manganese producing mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
A similar geological model to that proposed for Woodie Woodie, in which high grade pods of manganese ore are produced from dolomitic sediments as a result of hydrothermal alteration is being adopted by Galaxy to target manganese mineralisation in the West Kundip area.
Past exploration in the region of a similar geological sequence has previously defined small manganese ore bodies at the Copper Mine Creek Deposit, Dempster River Crossing and Hamersley Gorge (which now lie in the Fitzgerald River National Park).
A sample of manganese from a 7 tonne bulk sample in 1998 gave assays of 38% Mn, 3.22% Fe, 2.80% Si, 0.03% P and 2.00% Al.
Surface rock chip grab samples from the same area taken in 2008 and 2009 have returned up to 46.6% Mn, with 8.5% Fe, 1.0% Si, 0.002% P and 0.6% Al.
Galaxy's experience in heavy media separation processing techniques, mining fleet in the Ravensthorpe area and Esperance port facility agreements provide the company with an advantage in exploiting potential manganese mineralisation in the Ravensthorpe region.
About Galaxy Resources Limited
Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX:GXY) (OTCMKTS:GALXF) is an international S&P / ASX 200 Index company with lithium production facilities, hard rock mines and brine assets in Australia, Canada and Argentina. It wholly owns and operates the Mt Cattlin mine in Ravensthorpe Western Australia, which is currently producing spodumene and tantalum concentrate, and the James Bay lithium pegmatite project in Quebec, Canada.
Galaxy is advancing plans to develop the Sal de Vida lithium and potash brine project in Argentina situated in the lithium triangle (where Chile, Argentina and Bolivia meet), which is currently the source of 60% of global lithium production. Sal de Vida has excellent potential as a low cost brine-based lithium carbonate production facility.
Lithium compounds are used in the manufacture of ceramics, glass, and consumer electronics and are an essential cathode material for long life lithium-ion batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as mass energy storage systems. Galaxy is bullish about the global lithium demand outlook and is aiming to become a major producer of lithium products.
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