Terry Bates

Venture Minerals believes the identification of two new priority nickel-copper-PGE targets by its JV partner Chalice Mining will enhance the prospectivity of its South West project, 240km south of Perth. Two previously-identified soil anomalies have been extended and better-defined during a phase-two program at the project Venture describes as a look-alike to Chalice’s Julimar discovery.

North American explorer 88 Energy has revealed deep-diving plans to chase up to 647 million barrels of Alaskan oil in six target zones after successfully drilling its Hickory-1 surface hole to a depth of 1088m. The company has installed casing and a blow-out prevention system at Hickory-1 and will now proceed to the full depth of 3810m.

Terrain Minerals has used an induced polarisation survey to help lock in two priority gold-drilling targets under shallow cover and near existing gold prospects at its Smokebush project in the Yalgoo mineral field, 350km north of Perth. The company found a 400m IP anomaly near existing drilling where results include a 5m hit at 6.1 g/t gold from 55m.