Things are heating up for up-and-coming nickel explorer, St George Mining at its Mt Alexander project in the Goldfields of WA. New gravity surveys and downhole electromagnetic surveys have identified multiple new nickel-copper sulphide targets as resource and exploration drilling continues. Additional drilling to test the newly identified high-priority targets is now on the cards.
Mt Alexander is located 120km south-southwest of the Agnew-Wiluna Belt which hosts numerous nickel deposits including the Mt Keith and Leinster mines operated by mining giant BHP.
The tenure covers over 200 square kilometres and is host to the Mt Alexander and Cathedrals mineral belts. Shallow mineralisation has been discovered by the company at the Investigators, Stricklands, Cathedrals and Radar prospects over a 6.5km strike-length within the 16km Cathedrals Belt.
St George previously reported numerous eye-catching intercepts including a 17.45 metre hit at Stricklands going 3.01 per cent nickel, 1.31 per cent copper, 0.13 per cent cobalt and 1.68 grams per tonne platinum-group elements. At Cathedrals a 7.5m interval was returned at 3.9 per cent nickel, 1.74 per cent copper, 0.12 per cent cobalt and 3.32 g/t PGE. At Investigators drilling intercepted 5.3m at 4.95 per cent nickel, 2.75 per cent copper, 0.16 per cent cobalt and 4.55 g/t PGE.
The company believes the discoveries constitute an emerging nickel camp and the latest works at Mt Alexander appear to add potential for further discoveries to be made along strike and at depth.
A high-resolution ground gravity survey has now been completed over the West End and Investigators prospects of the Cathedrals Belt, with the results adding support for the area to potentially host further nickel-copper sulphides, according to management. Several high-priority and undrilled targets have been identified along the mineralised trend including a string of large gravity highs, with the largest appearing to be located at West End.
At Investigators, the results from the survey appear to suggest that the already known intrusive hosted nickel-copper sulphides, together with multiple untested down hole electromagnetic conductors, correlate with the identified gravity features. Intriguingly, management reports that the survey results provide evidence that gravity data is potentially mapping the massive sulphide mineralisation. Several new high-priority targets for test drilling have now been pinpointed.
Meanwhile, downhole electromagnetic surveying from ongoing drilling also appears to add to the potential for further discoveries to be made at depth.
Earlier this month the company reported a 10.96m intercept of nickel-copper sulphides from a drill hole at 333.6m below the surface. The discovery is the deepest occurrence of massive sulphides along the Cathedrals Belt and according to management, confirms the presence of nickel-copper sulphides at a depth beyond the detection limit of the electromagnetic surveys.
At Mt Alexander, the downhole electromagnetic survey of the discovery hole has now returned a strong electromagnetic response between 345 and 350m down hole, with 3 new electromagnetic conductors modelled.
Step-out drilling has now been designed to test the extent of the conductors and to test for down-plunge continuity. The first hole will commence once drilling of a separate hole some 500m away is complete.
Further drilling along the mineralised trend and at depth is also planned, including testing of the new gravity features.
With nickel continuing to trade at stellar levels, St George appears to be heading for a perfect storm as it continues to pump out the metres at Mt Alexander. Now armed with a bag full of new targets that look to be begging to feel the drill bit, the Perth based company is rapidly emerging as a key player in the new race to find the next big WA nickel discovery.
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By Matt Birney
