Si6 Metals has followed up historic drilling at its Maibele Project in Botswana, with new results successfully expanding a sulphide-hosting horizon identified back in 2014 by more than 60 metres. The company has returned to the Maibele after seven years and looks set to write its own chapter in the history of exploration at the project.
The recently completed 550m core hole at Maibele was aimed at testing for the presence of the mineralised horizon that was intersected in a previous hole some seven years ago.
Si6 has now confirmed the latest hole successfully intersected ultramafic rock types showing heavily disseminated sulphides and massive sulphide stringers, which management believes is a strong indication the sulphide-hosting horizon continues for at least 60m to the northeast.
The company said the hole appears to have intersected the up or down dip edge, or a possible pinch point, of the original mineralised body, confirming that the mineralised system is still present along strike.
Down-hole EM surveying will now test for off-hole conductors.
Si6 Metals Executive Chairman, Patrick Holywell said: “In what has been a busy start to 2021, I am pleased to report that initial inspection of the recent hole drilled in Botswana at our Maibele Project has successfully identified ultramafic rock types containing sulphides which is a very strong indication that the mineralised body previously intersected remains open and continues for at least 60 metres northeast.”
Management believes the Maibele North nickel sulphide mineralisation is related to ultramafic intrusions within mobile belt rocks and is broadly similar in style to other ultramafic intrusion-related mobile belt nickel discoveries such as Nova-Bollinger and Julimar in Australia.
Core has been collected from the recent hole that will be logged and processed, with samples of sulphide-mineralised intersections dispatched to the independent laboratory in South Africa. Results of a multi-element analysis are expected in the next couple of weeks.
Botswana’s exploration and mining has been historically dominated by diamonds and to a lesser extent, base metals. Copper, gold, nickel, and soda ash production has also held significant, though smaller roles in the economy. Base metals mining experienced a slump in 2015, however, exploration for copper-silver deposits has intensified in the western part of Botswana.
Meanwhile, at the Monument Gold Project in Western Australia, Si6 has successfully completed a 13-hole RC programme at the Waihi Prospect for a total of approximately 1,700m.
The company said all holes reached proposed target depths and terminated in the foot-wall ultramafic, intersecting multiple pyrite-rich BIF/chert horizons close to where projected in the recent 3D modelling. Samples have been dispatched to the independent laboratory with assay results expected in a few weeks.
Si6 has revealed its Monument gold project drilling campaign was minimally impacted when the highest rainfall in 26 years swept across parts of the Goldfields.
The company was forced into a short drilling shutdown, however, it has successfully recommenced work at the Korong Prospect, where 13 holes have been drilled to date for approximately 1,700m.
A further eight holes remain to be drilled at Korong for a total of approximately 1,100m with drilling expected to be completed by mid-February.
The 310 square kilometre Monument gold project contains significant gold mineralisation and approximately 30km of relatively untested gold-hosted banded iron formation which could prove to be interesting.
Si6 Metals has overcome COVID-19 delays in Africa and flooding-related issues in Western Australia to successfully conclude significant drilling programmes in quality mining jurisdictions, with key assay results just around the corner.
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By Matt Birney
