Legend grows Fraser Range nickel discovery footprint

Legend Mining continues to grow the mineralised intrusion at its Mawson nickel-copper-cobalt find in the Fraser Range of Western Australia with further sulphide intercepts including an 11m hit grading 1.02 per cent nickel and 0.61 per cent copper, several hundred metres away from the discovery zone. A new intrusion 2km south of Mawson has also been identified as downhole electromagnetic modelling adds further targets at Legend’s flagship Rockford project.

Two diamond rigs are smashing out the metres as part of a 10,000m drilling campaign tabled for the 2021 field season at Rockford.

The company made a breakthrough at the project in late 2019 when drilling revealed nickel-copper massive sulphides at the Mawson prospect.

A series of subsequent nickel-copper sulphide intercepts at Mawson have defined a 2.4km-by-1.1km mineralised intrusion said to be open in all directions.

Current step-out drilling is testing the extent of the intrusion and is aimed at identifying structural “trap sites” hosting massive nickel-sulphides as well as finding new intrusive bodies.

To date, massive sulphides extending for more than 1km east of the original discovery zone have been uncovered.

Management says the latest drilling, in conjunction with down-hole electromagnetic modelling, or “DHTEM”, has further grown the mineralised footprint of the intrusion.

Elevated nickel-copper sulphides have been returned in several holes including the solid 11m hit at 1.02 per cent nickel and 0.61 per cent copper from 132m, also containing a richer 2m interval at 1.13 per cent nickel and 0.96 per cent copper.

Curiously, DHTEM of the hole has revealed two nearby conductors interpreted to be extensions of the mineralisation.

The hole was designed to test a previously identified off-hole conductor above a recent intercept which returned 3m at 1.04 per cent nickel and 0.61 per cent copper from 181m.

Management says DHTEM of other holes at Mawson has also identified conductive features near existing mineralisation that will be drill-tested.

Meanwhile, three holes across an east-west traverse some 2km south of Mawson are said to have confirmed a new intrusion. The holes encountered minor mineralisation interpreted to display “key components” for fertile nickel-copper sulphides. DHTEM for the three holes is now on the cards with further drilling also planned.

Drilling and DHTEM is expected to play a key role in generating a 3D model of the Mawson mineralisation.

The company believes the continued discovery of nickel-copper sulphides at Mawson confirms the potential for other intrusions identified across the broader Rockford landholdings to be mineralised.

Legend has generated more than 30 regional targets at Rockford, which covers over 3,000 square kilometres along the renowned Fraser Range.

The company is operating Rockford through a series of joint venture agreements with private company Creasy Group and ASX-listed miner IGO. The exploration licence hosting Mawson is 70 per cent owned by Legend and 30 per cent by Creasy.

IGO’s Nova nickel-copper mine lies 120km south-west of Mawson in the Fraser Range.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au