Neometals has tabled some interesting pathfinder results from a significant air core drilling campaign across its Mt Edwards nickel project near Widgemooltha in WA. The program was designed to vector in on potential sulphide mineralisation across five of the company’s mining tenements and two broad target areas. Significant intercepts include 7m grading 0.63% nickel from 47m and 13m grading 0.46% nickel from 6m down hole.
Interestingly, the first of the results come from a prospect that sits within a few hundred metres of and directly along strike from Mincor’s Cassini North discovery. Within the 7m mineralised zone, a single metre ran at 1.09% nickel.
Neometals’ anomalous nickel results look to be associated with the same geological units and structures as Cassini North, according to the company.
Only 13 air core holes were drilled at this new prospect, so it is still early days for Neometals here, as air core drilling really only scratches the surface as a first pass exploration method designed to get a quick peek below the surface cover.
Mincor’s Cassini North discovery is located just 400m from its existing Cassini nickel mineral resource, which currently sits at 50,400 tonnes of nickel grading an impressive 4%.
Recent hits at Cassini North of 7m grading 1.4% nickel, that also included half a metre grading a whopping 7.5% nickel auger well for the region.
Neometals’ other nickel targets include the Double Eagle, Percy and Baldrick prospects, all located about 10km south of Mincor’s historical Wannaway mine, which was in production between 1984 and 2008.
553,000 tonnes grading 2.3% nickel and 524,000 tonnes grading 3% nickel respectively were pulled out of Wannaway during its heyday.
Neometals’ prospects were identified last year as part of a regional soil sampling program. Prior to drilling, the company re-modelled an old EM survey and found that some of these geochemical anomalies had coincident electromagnetic conductors.
New results show that Neometals looks to be on the right track, with drill holes identifying geological units known to be prospective for nickel deposits, such komatiite flows.
Neometals also said these komatiites are associated with highly anomalous nickel results.
At Double Eagle, assays all averaged out around 0.3% nickel, all related to ultramafic rocks, including komatiites and according to Neometals, disseminated-style nickel sulphides were seen.
The company’s Mt Edwards nickel project covers the prolific Widgie South trend and is located over a total strike length of 50 kilometres across the Widgiemooltha Dome.
Whilst the grades of the recent campaign appear to be modest, it should be noted that air core drilling is almost like a large soil sampling program, in which case they then appear to be excellent “pathfinder” results that show there is a mineralised system nearby.
The task for Neometals now is to find the core of it and with a wealth of solid deposits in the region, it is not out of the question that another big deposit could be lurking out there.
Neometals is planning to get back out in the field to undertake drilling and geophysical programs at the earliest opportunity once the Coronavirus pandemic is under control.
Is your ASX listed company doing something interesting ? Contact : matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Matt Birney
