NickelSearch Limited (ASX: NIS) has logged massive/matrix/stringer pyrrhotite-pyrite in several Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes at the company’s Carlingup Nickel Sulphide Project near Ravensthorpe, Western Australia.
Drilling focussed on geochemical and geophysical anomalies at three high priority target areas at Javelin, Sexton and RAV8 South.
“We are excited to build upon the known mineralization at Sexton. We are eagerly awaiting assay results. Visual logging has confirmed mineralization in three holes at Sexton, with a six-meter interval in 23NRC012 showing similarities to historic hole RVD01015, which achieved 2.2m @1.2 % Ni and 0.17% Cu from 98.1m,” Managing Director, Nicole Duncan, said.
“Further drilling will be dependent upon assay results, but we will definitely be back at Sexton to continue to test along strike. We will continue to target RAV8, which produced 16.1kt of nickel at 3.45% Ni (including 9.6kt of nickel @5.83% Ni). We know the geology can hold exceptional high-grade nickel massive sulphides.”
NickelSearch, advised by Newexco and with Strike Drilling as the drilling contractor, has successfully completed its ten- hole RC programme, testing targets at Sexton, Javelin and RAV8 South.
Ten holes were completed for 1,357m, with each 1.0m composite being sent for assay at Intertek. Results are expected in four to six weeks.
Selected holes were also lined to enable DHEM surveys. These surveys are complete and data is being analysed.
Sexton
The Sexton prospect is of interest due to a single historic intersection in hole RVD01015, which recorded 2.2m @1.2 % Ni and 0.17% Cu from 98.1m, as well as anomalism from soil assays and magnetic surveys.
Of the four holes targeting the Sexton area, three intersected Ni-bearing (pyrrhotite dominant) sulphides at the target horizon, including 6.0m of massive and matrix sulphides from 149m in 23NRC012 (assay results pending). The logging of this hole shows it is similar to RVD01015. The results of the DHEM and assays are eagerly awaited to plan drilling to follow the thickening nickel sulphide intervals.
It appears that the mineralization plunges shallowly to the east- southeast, which is common along the Carlingup South trend. This is consistent with the relative position of the drill intersection and the soil anomalies identified.
The drilling was planned based upon this apparent plunge and the previous hole RVD01015. Hole 23NRC009 intersected fresh massive nickel sulphides at a shallow depth of 39m, indicating that the mineralization may outcrop further to the west.
Hole 23NRC010 likely passed above the plunge, although it also intersected very different geology at the target depth to the other holes; a more layered-looking ultramafic body. Holes 23NRC011 and 23NRC012 both intersected the Ni-bearing mineralization at the approximate target depth.
Most holes were collared in basalt, with some having some siliciclastic sediment as well.
A series of thin layers of komatiite and komatiitic basalt followed with a thin interval, typically only 1.0m, of disseminated to massive Ni-bearing sulphides at the base of these ultramafics immediately above a thick magnetite banded iron formation (BIF) unit.
The main targets were immediately below the BIF, with 0 – 2m of ultramafic before 1.0 – 6.0m of massive and matrix nickel- bearing sulphides. The mineralization was generally followed by another chert /BIF unit; meaning the nickel sulphides are sandwiched between two sediments. With the vein and quartz material, this possibly means some remobilization has squeezed the sulphides into this location.
Further ultramafics are present below this sediment. The “footwall” is variable with a variety of lithologies in the different holes including a detrital sandstone, felsic volcanics and further ultramafics, and further massive pyrite, chert, quartz veining.
Next Steps
NickelSearch is currently analyzing the DHEM survey results and will update the market when complete. Assays have been submitted to the lab and results are expected to be received in early March.
At Sexton, targets arising from these drilling results, along with the historical ultrafine soil surveys that correlate with TMI targets, remain a high priority.
The company also eagerly anticipates that approval for drilling will shortly be granted over the greenfield Wadley and Lipple prospects, which are currently undergoing a detailed review in anticipation of drill testing in the next quarter.
For further information please visit: https://nickelsearch.com/
