Explorer and project incubator, Castle Minerals Limited (ASX: CDT) ('Castle', the 'Company'), advises that a specialist review of geochemical datasets, which includes the results of a recently completed infill soil sampling program, has identified four high-priority targets for gold and possibly pegmatite-hosted lithium at the Beasley Creek project on the northern flanks of the Pilbara's Rocklea Dome granite intrusion.
Castle's recognition that the under-explored older Archean greenstone sequence of rocks at Beasley Creek is prospective for structurally controlled, orogenic-style gold mineralisation is beginning to pay dividends. Results from a series of rock chip, stream sediment, soil sampling and mapping campaigns combined with a recent high resolution aeromagnetic survey and detailed structural interpretation have reinforced the belief that the area contains several viable drill targets.
Two of the priority gold targets fall within a structurally bound, northwest trending anomalous corridor in the centre of the licence. They comprise a consistently anomalous 600m zone with associated copper anomalism and a smaller anomalous gold zone with a multi-element association of sliver, bismuth, nickel, platinum and palladium. Sample values peaked at 137ppb Au and 1010ppm Cu.
Castle Managing Director, Stephen Stone commented 'We have now systematically delineated at least four high-priority geochemical sampling based targets at Beasley Creek, two of which are strongly indicative of the structurally-controlled, orogenic goldstyle mineralisation that we have primarily been targeting in this very unexplored area.'
'Two others are unexpected lithium anomalies supported by anomalous and commonly associated signature elements in close proximity to the Rocklea granite.' 'We will now move to verify in the field these priority and other interesting anomalies and, once we obtain the relevant site access permits, implement a multi-target RC drilling program'
Lithium
The two other priority targets have a strong lithium signature in both soil and stream sediment samples. These are located in the southern section of the greenstone rocks, close to their margin with the Rocklea Granite. Lithium and the anomalous associated pathfinder elements also identified were not a specific target for exploration at Beasley Creek but their elevated values have provided Castle with an additional dimension to its exploration in the region.
The multi-element signatures of these anomalies are consistent with possible hard rock lithium mineralisation associated with lithium-cesium-tantalum ('LCT') type pegmatites and their close proximity to the Rocklea granite provides additional encouragement. At this stage it is too early to have a firm understanding of the origin of the lithium. It is also stressed that Castle has not yet carried out enough sampling to confirm the source of the lithium or other associated elements and no pegmatites have as yet been identified in the field or are apparent from satellite imagery. A field inspection is planned as a priority and before any decision to drill the lithium targets is made.
Review details
When soil and steam sediment samples are collected, they are assayed for up to 30 different elements. Specialist consultant, Sugden Geoscience, was contracted to undertake a detailed multi-element geostatistical study that looked closely at individual and groups of 'pathfinder' elements to identify areas with typical 'signatures' for possible orogenic gold and VMS-style mineral deposits. The study also effectively 'levelled' the various datasets in the context of the underlying stratigraphy in order to screen out 'false positives' and identify zones of bona fide anomalism.
The review interrogated 1,327 samples of which 989 were from the recently completed infill soil sampling survey (200m x 40m grid) with another 149 and 189 samples respectively extracted from preceding stream sediment and rock chip sampling programs. A Castle stream sediment survey carried out in early 2020 had already highlighted anomalism in several of the drainages within the older Archean greenstone sequence.
A subsequent soil sampling campaign, where samples were collected on a 400m x 80m sampling grid, outlined a broad zone of anomalism bounded by northwest trending structures. These structures were identified by a detailed interpretation of a high-resolution aeromagnetic survey commissioned by Castle (refer ASX release 5 August 2021). The statistical analysis of the various datasets generated a total of twenty three multi-element targets (>90% percentile values) that were ranked against a number of geological criteria. Four targets in particular were designated as high-priority.
Field reconnaissance
Concurrent with the last phase of soil sampling, Castle undertook a field reconnaissance program to check for and sample any outcropping mineralisation. This was able to identify various sedimentary sequences along with mafic volcanic rocks which showed indications of hydrothermal activity. Another field visit is planned asap to inspect the high-priority and other ranked anomalies prior to the planning of a drill program. Commencement of drilling will, amongst other things, be subject to the undertaking of a heritage survey by the area's indigenous custodians and other statutory requirements.
EIS Co-Funding
As the emphasis at Beasley Creek has shifted away from gold mineralisation in the vicinity the unconformity between the Hardey Formation and the underlying Archean greenstone sequence, Castle has informed the GSWA that it no longer needs to drill the deep stratigraphic diamond core holes that were to be co-funded under the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS)
Contact:
Stephen Stone
Tel: +61 (0) 418 804 564
Email: stone@castleminerals.com
About Castle Minerals Limited
Castle Minerals Limited is an Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: CDT) listed and Perth, Western Australia headquartered company with interests in several projects in Western Australia and Ghana that are prospective for battery metals (lithium and graphite), base metals and gold. The Earaheedy Basin project encompasses terrane prospective for base and precious metals in the Earaheedy and Yerrida basins base metals provinces. The project comprises the Withnell, Terra Rossa and Tableland sub-projects. The Withnell application is adjacent to the evolving Chinook-Magazine zinc-lead project of Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX: RTR) and north of the Strickland Metals Limited (ASX: STK) Iroquois prospect. The four Terra Rossa applications are immediately east of the Thaduna copper deposit.
The Beasley Creek project lies on the northern flanks of the Rocklea Dome in the southern Pilbara. The strategy is to define orogenic-style, structurally controlled gold targets within the various Archean sequences. The sheared granite - greenstone contact and the 'Paulsen Gold Mine' type setting within the gabbro/dolerite units that intrude the Hardey Sandstone in the northern part of the project area, are also of particular interest.
The Success Dome project lies in the Ashburton structural corridor and is located midway between the Paulsen's and Ashburton gold deposits. It is prospective for gold and base metals. Major thrust faults and sub-parallel shear zones highlighted in the regional magnetic and gravity data, combined with additional detailed geophysics data from previous explorers, brought this available area to Castle's attention.
The Polelle project (E51/1843, 162.5km2), 25km south of Meekatharra and 7km southeast of the operating Bluebird Mine, hosts a mainly obscured and minimally explored greenstone belt. The belt is comprised of a combination of prospective lithological units and major structural features including the Albury Heath shear which hosts the Albury Heath deposit immediately adjacent to the east boundary of Castle's licence. Aeromagnetic surveys have indicated that the southwest trending Albury Heath shear and a splay structure are traceable onto the Polelle project area for some 12km. At the Wanganui project (E51/1703, 18.4km2), 33km south-west of the active Meekatharra mining centre and 15km south-west of the operating Bluebird gold mine, the opportunity is to test for down-plunge and along strike extensions to the existing Main Lode North and South deposits, as well as for other similar targets. The Main Lode mineralisation, which can be intermittently traced for at least 1km, is one of at least four structurally related mineralised zones.
The Wilgee Springs project (ELA70/5880, 120km2), along strike from and within the same metamorphic belt as the World-Class Greenbushes lithium mine, 25km to the south in Western Australia's SouthWestern region, provides an opportunity to explore using the latest geochemical and geophysical techniques for spodumene bearing pegmatites beneath a lateritic cover that has previously hampered exploration. The Woodcutters project (ELA15/1847/1847, 242km2) is prospective for lithium bearing pegmatites, 25km southeast of the Bald Hill lithium mine in the Bald Hill pegmatite field region and 25km northwest of the Buldania lithium deposit.
The Kendenup project (EL70/5514 - granted) comprises the historical Kendunup graphite workings and an adjacent application encompasses the Martigallup graphite occurrences (ELA70/5963). In Ghana, West Africa, Castle has a substantial and contiguous tenure position in the country's Upper West region. Ghana has a long history of gold exploration and mining with several world-class gold mining operations owned by Tier 1 mining companies. Castle's Ghana licence holdings encompass large tracts of highly prospective Birimian geological terrane, the host to many of West Africa's and Ghana's multi-million-ounce gold mines. The project area is also host to the open-ended Kambale graphite project for which test work on nearsurface samples produced a 96.4% total carbon fine flake graphite concentrate. Castle retains a 4% net smelter precious metal royalty over the adjacent Julie West licence, a key component of Azumah Resources Limited's Wa Gold Project.
Cautionary Statement
All of Castle's projects in Australia are considered to be of grass roots or of relatively early-stage exploration status. There has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource. No Competent Person has done sufficient work in accordance with JORC Code 2012 to conclusively determine or to estimate in what quantities gold or other minerals are present. It is possible that following further evaluation and/or exploration work that the confidence in the information used to identify areas of interest may be reduced when reported under JORC Code 2012. The Kambale graphite deposit is at an early stage in its evaluation with little known about how extensive the deposit is or how the graphite quality varies within it. Work to date has been undertaken on an easily accessible area which may or may not be representative of the broader deposit once that is known. To date, the area investigated at Kambale has produced from weathered samples a fine flake size concentrate of a potentially commercially acceptable grade at a reasonably high recovery. Definitive test work on fresh material and material from other parts of the deposit has yet to be undertaken
Forward Looking Statement
Statements regarding Castle's plans, forecasts and projections with respect to its mineral properties and programs are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that Castle's plans for development of its mineral properties will proceed. There can be no assurance that Castle will be able to confirm the presence of Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, that any mineralisation will prove to be economic or that a mine will be successfully developed on any of Castle's mineral properties. The performance of Castle may be influenced by a number of factors which are outside the control of the Company, its Directors, staff or contractors.
CASTLE MINERALS LIMITED 
