Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX:BSX) has intersected sulphide mineralisation in the first drill-hole targeting a large IP anomaly at the Jewel Prospect at the Gold Bridge Project in British Columbia.
Large Induced Polarisation (IP) anomalies at the Jewel Prospect occur over a strike length of approximately two km.
Drill hole JWD21-01 intersected massive Cu-Ni-Co sulpharsenide vein mineralisation. Within the mineralised intersection from drill hole JWD21-01, significant copper, nickel and cobalt has been confirmed by portable XRF (pXRF). Assay results are expected in six-10 weeks including assays for gold.
Managing Director, Scott Williamson, said further drilling will target extensions of the mineralisation discovered in JWD21-01.
“Although Ta Khoa remains the company’s primary focus, in the background Blackstone has continued to work-up its exploration targets in British Columbia,” Mr Williamson said.
“The first drill hole testing a 700 m long 24 mv/v IP chargeability anomaly at Jewel Prospect successfully encountered Cu, Ni and Co sulpharsenides is a great proof-of-concept result for the project. Initial success confirms not only the prospectivity of the Jewel IP target, but also the potential of Blackstone’s 50 km BC cobalt target zone to host Ni, Co and Cu sulpharsenide deposits of the same style as the World Class Bou-Azzer cobalt district in Morocco.”
Blackstone’s geological model for the Jewel prospect suggest that it is located within a similar setting to the underground mines of the world class Bou-Azzer primary cobalt district in Morocco.
Much of the high grade underground primary cobalt mines in BouAzzer are located near the contact of the serpentinised ultramafic and quartz diorite units, of which the Gold Bridge Project is a great analogue. The historical Jewel mine is likewise located proximal to the contact of the serpentinite and granodiorite bodies.
The current exploration program builds on initial exploration success at the Little Gem prospect and involved a detailed 3D Pole-Dipole Induced Polarisation (3D IP) and Resistivity Survey.
An analysis of IP survey data and regional soil, rock chip and stream sediment samples has resulted in the identification of multiple large-scale sulphide bearing targets, with the Jewel prospect being high priority.
For further information please visit: https://www.blackstoneminerals.com.au/
