Pan Asia Metals Ltd intersects wide near-surface tungsten at Khao Soon in

() has intersected near-surface tungsten mineralisation with good grades over robust widths while drilling at Than Pho West (TPW) prospect within the Khao Soon Tungsten Project (KSTP) in southern Thailand.

According to the company, results are in line with the exploration target model for the project.

Best results from spot handheld X-Ray flouresence (hhXRF) testing include:

• 9.2 metres at 0.42% tungsten trioxide from 28.3 metres including 1.5 metres at 1.15% from 34.7 metres;
• 45.9 metres at 0.30% tungsten trioxide from 35 metres including 2.7 metres at 0.91% from 76.3 metres; and
• 19 metres at 0.56% tungsten trioxide from 48.6 metres including 5.6 metres at 0.73% from 51 metres.

“Very pleased with results”

PAM managing director Paul Lock said: “We are very pleased with the results, they are generally in line with the exploration target model and with these grades and geometries this prospect is shaping up as an open cut target, and the mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth.

“Although confirmation by laboratory analysis is pending, the spot hhXRF results are generally in line with or slightly above the grade range expressed in the exploration target.

“We have more drilling to do and our success to date is highly encouraging.”

The project

KSTP is one of PAM’s key assets and a significant historical high-grade producer. Exploration has discovered potentially world-class, district-scale tungsten mineralisation across numerous prospects.

Diamond drilling by PAM has intersected robust widths and grades associated with strong surface anomalies, from which exploration targets have been estimated.

The current drilling program seeks to test the exploration targets to estimate mineral resources.

Drilling of priority holes at the TPW prospect has been completed and PAM has received hhXRF results for the last four holes of the program.

Sample points for the hhXRF analysis along with the drill core are typically at 0.3-metre spacings.

hhXRF analysis

The hhXRF is used by PAM geologists to take readings on drill core to evaluate the tenor of the contained mineralisation and associated pathfinder elements.

This assists with onsite decision making and in the selection of intervals to sample and dispatch for laboratory analysis.

The company emphasises that the spot hhXRF results are not formal assays but are preliminary indications of grade only and should not be considered as representative.

However, based upon extensive QA/QC conducted by PAM during the previous drilling, the spot hhXRF analysis does provide a relatively good indication of tungsten grades when compared to those reported from later laboratory analysis.

TPW prospect

The TPW prospect is defined by a large over 1-kilometre-long tungsten trioxide soil anomaly supported by rock-chip sampling and subsequent drilling.

PAM has previously completed seven widely spaced diamond core holes at TPW and defined near-surface tungsten mineralisation over substantial widths.

The company had earlier estimated an exploration target of 4-8 million tonnes at 0.2-0.4% tungsten oxide.

PAM clarifies that the potential quantity and grade are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a mineral resource.

Forward planning

PAM will use laboratory results to enhance geological interpretations and grade modelling at TPW to update the exploration target.

There are two other prospects where exploration targets have been estimated– The Rabbit and Than Pho Ridge prospects.

The company has planned further drilling at these prospects and will seek to test the exploration targets to delineate mineral resources.

A large soil anomaly with robust tungsten oxide grades occurs at the Last Hill prospect about 1.3…