Trek Metals Hits 7m at 40% Manganese Near Surface as Kuro Discovery Widens
Key Takeaways
- The second assay batch from Trek Metals' maiden RC drill program at Kuro has returned headline grades of 7m @ 40.2% Mn from 7m, with a peak one-metre assay of 49.9% Mn in hole 26XCRC026.
- Of 50 Phase 1 holes assayed to date, 28 have returned intercepts above 5% Mn and 16 have averaged above 20% Mn — confirming the high-grade system is laterally consistent, not isolated.
- All significant mineralisation sits within 37m of surface, meaning any future mining scenario could potentially be accessed without deep or costly underground methods.
- Geochemistry is encouraging: intercepts above 30% Mn carry an Mn:Fe ratio of 14:1, improving to 47:1 in the highest-grade interval, with phosphorus low across most holes.
- Phase 2 RC drilling (~2,500m) has commenced targeting IP anomalies across a ~30km interpreted prospective basin, with final Phase 1 assays expected within 2–3 weeks.
Kuro discovery strengthens as second assay batch delivers exceptional shallow high-grade results
The second batch of laboratory assay results from Trek Metals‘ maiden Reverse Circulation (RC) drill program at the Kuro prospect has confirmed a significant, shallow, high-grade manganese discovery within the company’s 100%-owned Christmas Creek Project in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. The headline result is 7m @ 40.2% Mn from 7m in hole 26XCRC026, sitting within a broader intercept of 14m @ 23.6% Mn from 6m, with a peak one-metre assay of 49.9% Mn.
Of the 50 Phase 1 holes assayed to date, 28 have returned significant manganese intercepts above 5% Mn, including 16 with intercepts averaging above 20% Mn. Critically, all significant intercepts remain near-surface, occurring between surface and 37m down-hole.
CEO Derek Marshall
“These outstanding results confirm that Kuro is a significant shallow, high-grade manganese discovery, confirming that the high grades we saw in the first batch of results are being repeated across the system.”
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Standout intercepts from the second assay batch
The second batch covers holes 26XCRC022 to 26XCRC050 and has produced multiple high-grade results across the Phase 1 hole suite, not isolated hits. The standout intercepts include:
Earlier drilling at Christmas Creek produced a manganese discovery exceeding 58% Mn, establishing the high-grade ceiling that subsequent Phase 1 holes have been testing for lateral and depth continuity across the Kuro system.
- 7m @ 40.2% Mn from 7m (26XCRC026), within 14m @ 23.6% Mn from 6m — peak 1m assay of 49.9% Mn
- 3m @ 42.7% Mn from 26m (26XCRC037), within 8m @ 20.6% Mn from 23m
- 3m @ 41.8% Mn from 13m (26XCRC025), within 13m @ 15.3% Mn from 6m
- 8m @ 32.7% Mn from 3m (26XCRC033), within 10m @ 27.8% Mn from 2m
- 4m @ 38.6% Mn from 2m (26XCRC041), within 8m @ 24.1% Mn from 2m
- 6m @ 39.0% Mn from 28m (26XCRC028), within 8m @ 31.3% Mn from 28m
The final Phase 1 assay results are expected in 2–3 weeks.
| Hole ID | From (m) | Width (m) | Mn% | Significant Intercept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26XCRC026 | 6 | 14 | 23.6% | 14m @ 23.6% Mn from 6m |
| 26XCRC037 | 23 | 8 | 20.6% | 8m @ 20.6% Mn from 23m |
| 26XCRC025 | 6 | 13 | 15.3% | 13m @ 15.3% Mn from 6m |
| 26XCRC033 | 2 | 10 | 27.8% | 10m @ 27.8% Mn from 2m |
| 26XCRC041 | 2 | 8 | 24.1% | 8m @ 24.1% Mn from 2m |
| 26XCRC028 | 28 | 8 | 31.3% | 8m @ 31.3% Mn from 28m |
What the geochemistry tells us
Iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) are the principal penalty elements in manganese ore — the higher their presence, the lower the potential quality and saleability of the product. At Kuro, the geochemistry is encouraging across the board.
Intercepts averaging ≥20% Mn return 3.28% Fe and 0.026% P over 117m, for an Mn:Fe ratio of approximately 8:1. That ratio improves considerably with grade: 14:1 in composites above 30% Mn, and 47:1 in the highest-grade intercept previously reported (10m @ 42.3% Mn at 0.90% Fe in 26XCRC020).
Phosphorus is low across most intercepts, ranging from 0.014% to 0.115%, and is elevated only in holes 26XCRC006 and 26XCRC007. Silica — the principal diluent — falls as grade rises, from 49.7% SiO₂ across all reported intercepts to 24.4% in the highest-grade interval, a positive indicator of ore quality at the top end of the grade range.
It is important to note that no metallurgical or product characterisation testwork has been undertaken at this stage. These geochemical observations are early stage and indicative only.
Why manganese grade and depth matter for investors
Manganese is a metal with two growing demand drivers. It is a fundamental input in steel production, used to improve strength and hardness, and it is increasingly important in battery materials, featuring in lithium-manganese-oxide and other battery chemistries used in electric vehicles and energy storage.
Grade matters significantly. Manganese ore is typically assessed by its Mn content, with grades above 30–40% Mn considered high quality and more competitive in both steel and battery-grade markets. Kuro is consistently returning intercepts in this range, with multiple holes grading above 40% Mn.
Depth matters just as much. Near-surface mineralisation reduces the complexity and cost of any future mining scenario. All significant Kuro intercepts sit within the top 37m from surface, meaning the ore body could potentially be accessed without deep or costly underground methods. That said, no Mineral Resource has been estimated for the Kuro Prospect, and insufficient exploration has been completed to do so. Further drilling and evaluation are required, and it remains uncertain whether further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.
The Mn:Fe ratio improvement at higher grades — from 8:1 across the broader intercept population to 47:1 in the best interval — suggests that the highest-grade portions of the system are also the lowest in iron contamination. For investors assessing ore quality at this early stage, that is a genuinely encouraging combination.
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Phase 2 drilling underway as Trek targets a 30km prospective basin
Phase 2 of the RC drill program, targeting approximately 2,500m, has now commenced at Kuro. It is targeting high-priority chargeability and conductivity anomalies defined by recent Induced Polarisation (IP) surveying across the greater Kuro region.
Phase 2 covers a substantially larger area than Phase 1, testing anomalies across the heritage-cleared area. Drill pads and access were prepared under the supervision of the Yi-Martuwarra (YMN) Traditional Owners.
CEO Derek Marshall noted that the company’s interpretation suggests the host geology for the Kuro manganese mineralisation extends across a basin with a ~30km strike length within Trek’s tenure, which he described as highly prospective for additional manganese discoveries. A high-resolution fixed-wing magnetic survey has recently been completed over the area, with radiometric data described as having been critical in the initial discovery of Kuro. The airborne magnetic and radiometric data from this survey are pending delivery.
A Sub-Audio Magnetic (SAM) survey has also been completed over the Martin high-grade gold prospect, with data to be integrated with existing datasets for drill targeting. A reconnaissance soil sampling survey is currently underway across the interpreted prospective basin to assess the methodology for identifying additional manganese target areas.
For investors exploring the scale thesis behind Trek’s Phase 2 program, our deep-dive into the Kuro basin drilling strategy examines the IP anomaly targeting methodology and the geological interpretation underpinning the 30km strike-length prospectivity assessment.
CEO Derek Marshall
“What is particularly encouraging is that we are still in at a very early stage in understanding the scale of this opportunity. Phase 2 of the Kuro exploration drill program is now underway to see if we can find additional pods of mineralisation beneath the sand…”
What’s next — upcoming catalysts
- Final Phase 1 assay results expected within 2–3 weeks
- Phase 2 RC drilling (~2,500m) underway, targeting IP anomalies across an expanded area
- Airborne magnetic and radiometric survey data pending delivery and integration
- SAM survey data integration ongoing at the Martin gold prospect
- Soil sampling programme underway across the ~30km interpreted prospective basin
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