Maximus Resources Limited (ASX:MXR) has commenced air-core drilling at the Jilbadji prospect (E63/2147, E63/2148) located proximal to the Forrestania and Lake Johnston nickel belts, in Forrestania, Western Australia.
“The commencement of the Jilbadji initial reconnaissance drill programme provides a low-cost and highly prospective entry point for additional nickel prospects for the company,” Managing Director, Tim Wither, said.
“The Jilbadji project is exceptionally well located, and we are confident that, if we are successful in defining areas of significant mineralization, we will be in a great position to advance these projects rapidly and effectively together with our continuing strategy at Spargoville. The aim of the Jilbadji drill programme is to determine the geology below the shallow transported cover and provide an understanding of the magnetic and gravity features.
“The commencement of drilling at Jilbadji follows the completion of 188 holes for 4,553m across several gold and nickel targets at Spargoville. Additional in-fill drilling was completed on several targeted areas due to encouraging field observations and a large number of selected completed holes have been submitted as priority for assaying and we look forward to updating shareholders once the results have been received.”
Jilbadji Prospect Background
The Jilbadji prospect was identified based on the presence of unique circular/arcuate magnetic features that coincide with gravity highs which could indicate the presence of mafic-ultramafic intrusions or assimilated greenstones, prospective for nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE and gold.
The Jilbadji prospect is located within the eastern margins of the Yilgarn craton, proximal to the Forrestania and Lake Johnston nickel belts, which host IGO Limited Forrestania Nickel operations (Flying Fox and Spotted Quoll Deposits) and Poseidon Nickel Limited Lake Johnston operations (Maggie Hays/Emily Ann Nickel deposits).
The current regional geology interpretation comprising only granitic bedrock, does not account for the alignment of these magnetic and gravity features, primarily due to insufficient exploration in the area. A review of the limited historical exploration, combined with the interpretation of existing geophysical data, suggests the potential to host orthomagmatic Ni-Cu-PGE systems, similar to OZ Minerals Limited Nebo-Babel or Chalice Mining Julimar deposit.
A gravity high anomaly over the Jilbadji project area is similar in comparison with known greenstone belts, hosting the Marvel Loch – Forrestania gold and nickel belt to the west.
Jilbadji Drill Programme
The company has been awarded a Western Australia Government Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) co-funding drilling grant (up to A$90,000) for the fast track of reconnaissance drilling in the Jilbadji prospect area. In preparation for the drill programme, the company completed a wide-sample soil sampling programme across the magnetic features, which indicated a potential for mafic-ultramafic bedrock.
The purpose of the 41-hole (~2,000m) drill programme aims to determine the geological setting by testing below the shallow transported cover and provide an understanding of the magnetic and gravity anomalies, through a traverse of wide-spaced holes that intersects the peak magnetic and gravity responses.
Additional in-fill drilling may be incorporated if there are any positive field observations. The drill programme is expected to completed under one week, with assay results expected late April. For further information please visit: http://maximusresources.com/
