Trek Metals Proves IP Can Find Hidden Manganese Beneath Cover at Kuro Prospect
IP proves it can find manganese hidden beneath cover at Kuro
Trek Metals (ASX: TKM) has demonstrated that Induced Polarisation (IP) surveying can successfully locate concealed manganese mineralisation beneath shallow sand cover at its 100%-owned Christmas Creek Project in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. The company reported that 43 of 51 additional Reverse Circulation (RC) holes intersected significant visual manganese (≥10% visual content), largely targeting IP chargeability highs beneath areas with little to no surface indication of mineralisation. Laboratory assay results from the first batch of drill samples are expected within 1–2 weeks, providing the first independent confirmation of manganese grades and purity.
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
Standout visual manganese intercepts beneath shallow cover
Visual logging of RC drill chips identified several high-grade intercepts, with massive to semi-massive manganese replacing host sediments beneath shallow sand cover. The following table presents the top five visual intercepts from the programme:
| Hole ID | Visual Mn Interval | From (downhole) | Broader Zone | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26XCRC051 | 15m massive/semi-massive | 11m | 21m from 10m | Mn replacement in silcrete |
| 26XCRC059 | 14m massive/semi-massive | 6m | 14m from 6m | Mn replacement in sandstone |
| 26XCRC039 | 11m semi-massive | 17m | 14m from 14m | Mn replacement in saprock |
| 26XCRC064 | 10m massive/semi-massive | 2m | 16m from 2m | Mn replacement in sediments |
| 26XCRC026 | 8m massive/semi-massive | 7m | 15m from 6m | Mn replacement in saprolite |
Visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations. Representative drill samples are being routinely collected and will be analysed at ALS laboratories, with laboratory assay results expected progressively over the coming weeks.
CEO Derek Marshall
“The most important outcome from this drilling is that the majority of the manganese intersections were made beneath shallow sand cover, where there is little or no surface indication of mineralisation. The strong correlation between IP chargeability and visual manganese gives Trek a practical targeting method to explore beyond the known outcrops and systematically test the broader Kuro basin.”
What Induced Polarisation is and why it matters here
Induced Polarisation surveying measures how rock holds an electric charge when a current is transmitted through the ground. Certain types of mineralisation—particularly disseminated or semi-massive sulphides and manganese oxides—generate chargeability anomalies that show up as hotspots in the geophysical data.
At Kuro, manganese mineralisation sits beneath shallow sand cover with no surface expression, making traditional surface mapping ineffective. Visual manganese intersections align closely with IP chargeability highs, validating the method as a targeting tool that can guide drilling beneath cover. This de-risks exploration by allowing Trek to test a much larger footprint efficiently rather than drilling blind across the interpreted ~16km long prospective basin. Only a small part of the basin has been tested to date.
Mineralisation taking shape: strike, width and a Woodie Woodie analogue
Drilling along two interpreted long-section lines has begun to define the geometry and strike extent of visual manganese mineralisation at Kuro:
- Southern line: Visual mineralisation extends over ~400m of strike.
- Northern line: Two zones of ~300m and ~150m strike respectively.
- Cross-section: Apparent interpreted mineralised width of approximately ~50m.
Derek Marshall noted that this geometry is consistent with a typical mineralised pod in the Woodie Woodie district, with all indications so far suggesting an interpreted hydrothermal Woodie Woodie-style system. “The real prize at Kuro would be to discover multiple pods of mineralisation, as we see at Woodie Woodie, and that is where our attention is now focused,” Marshall said.
All geological conclusions—including host rock interpretations, structural controls, and system analogues—remain interpreted pending assay confirmation and further drilling.
The Coogan copper-gold target: a second string to the bow
The Coogan copper-gold prospect is located approximately 7km northwest of Kuro within the Christmas Creek Project. An independent geochemistry review completed in 2025 identified Coogan as a standout target, with soil and drill sampling defining a coherent mineralised footprint exceeding 1km². The geochemistry revealed a core of Au-Cu-Bi-Se-Te-Mo-W surrounded by a halo of Pb-Zn-Ag-Cd-In.
Recent Dipole-Dipole Induced Polarisation (DDIP) surveying across the main Coogan trend defined a moderate-to-strong chargeability anomaly that directly underlies and extends beyond previous sulphide-bearing drilling, including hole NEWXCRC031. That hole intersected a strong sulfidic zone from ~100m to end-of-hole, with a standout section at 98–100m downhole recording 657ppm Cu, 619ppm Zn, 87.6ppm Pb, 1.22ppm Ag, 38.5ppm As and 7ppb Au, all coinciding with 6,000ppm S. Molybdenum enrichment exceeded 2ppm from 96m, with a late peak of 11ppm at 202–204m. The deepening molybdenum trend suggests the system may strengthen at depth below the current hole.
A programme of four holes for approximately 1,480m has been planned to test the newly identified chargeability anomaly, with priority given to depth extensions below existing drilling where both molybdenum enrichment and chargeability response suggest the system may be centred.
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
What’s next: drilling pipeline, IP expansion and assay flow
The near-term catalyst pipeline comprises:
- The RC rig is currently testing prospective gold, copper-gold and rare earth element (REE) soil anomalies across the broader Christmas Creek Project.
- The rig will then move to test the Coogan IP target (four holes / ~1,480m total).
- The rig will be redeployed to Kuro for Phase 2 drilling once initial assay results and further IP survey data are received.
The IP crew from Moombarriga Geoscience remobilised to site on 3 July 2026. The Moombarriga Geoscience IP crew, which remobilised on 3 July 2026, has completed additional GAIP surveying to the south-west of the Kuro discovery and is now continuing this surveying to the north-west of the discovery area along the interpreted ~16km long prospective basin.
- First assay batch: Expected in 1–2 weeks.
- Second assay batch: Expected in 3–5 weeks.
- Final Phase 1 batch: Expected in 4–6 weeks (ALS laboratories).
With IP surveying continuing and laboratory assays the key upcoming de-risking catalyst, Trek has a substantial pipeline of targets and results ahead. The validated IP targeting methodology opens the way to systematically explore a much larger prospective basin that has been concealed beneath cover to date.
Want the Next Mining Discovery in Your Inbox?
Join 20,000+ investors receiving FREE breaking ASX news within minutes of release, complete with in-depth analysis. Click the “Free Alerts” button at Big News Blast to get market-moving announcements the moment they drop, with expert coverage already done for you.