• Assays including 7.55m @ 0.96% Ni, 0.12% Cu & 0.18% Co confirm previously reported pXRF readings of nickel sulphide mineralisation
  • Luhuma Central is part of the Kabanga Jirani nickel project in Tanzania
  • Surveys under way to define strike extent of 1km+ airborne EM anomaly
  • More drilling planned towards the end of the month

 

Assays from Adavale Resources’ drilling at the Luhuma Central prospect of its Tanzanian Kabanga Jirani project have confirmed previously reported handheld pXRF readings, intersecting significant massive and/or semi-massive sulphide mineralisation.

The company is currently focused on both its Kabanga Jirani project and farm-in ‘Luhuma’ licences adjacent and along strike from the Tier-1, high grade Kabanga deposit, one of the largest undeveloped nickel sulphide projects in the world.

Kabanga contains 58Mt of resources at an average nickel grade of 2.62% and is now part owned by BHP (ASX:BHP). Development of a 30-year, 65,000tpa nickel equivalent operation is under way, with first production anticipated in 2025. 

Adavale Resources’ (ASX:ADD) Luhuma Central step out drilling is part of 5,000m combined diamond (DD) and reverse circulation (RC) drill program designed to test a series of targets within the Kabanga Jirani project.

These latest assays have confirmed previously reported handheld pXRF readings at Luhuma Central, which returned results between 1.40% and 2.70% Ni within the massive sulphides and 0.5% to 0.6% Ni in the disseminated sulphides.

 

All five diamond holes hit nickel sulphides

All five diamond drillholes at the prospect have intercepted nickel sulphides, with results including:

  • 7.55m at 0.96% Ni, 0.12% Cu and 0.18% Co (DDLUHC003);
  • 1.12m at 1.34% Ni, 0.15% Cu and 0.14% Co (DDLUHC004); and
  • 7.50m at 0.42% Ni, 0.11% Cu and 0.06% Co (DDLUHC004).

Drillhole DDLUHC005 samples are being prepped for expedited assay.

“The assay results from DDLUHC003 and DDLUHC004 confirm the nickeliferous potential at Luhuma Central which is very encouraging and adds to the understanding of the grade distribution within the sulphides we are intersecting,” executive director David Riekie said.

 

Confirming strike length for drilling

The company has already commenced a ground Electromagnetic (EM) survey at Luhuma Central to refine the strike extent of an airborne EM anomaly which extends for over 1 km.

In addition, the Downhole EM (DHEM) survey at DDLUHC005 has been completed and modelling is under way.

The results will be used to correlate the downhole EM results and will be used to plan the next phase of diamond drilling.

“The thickening of the mineralised zones intersected in DDLUHC005 together with the ground EM program currently under way, will assist in confirming the depth potential, orientation and the strike length of Luhuma for the next phase of diamond drilling,” Riekie said.

 

More drilling to come

The diamond drilling program has been paused to allow for a crew break over the next 7-10 days, and to allow compilation of the ground EM survey and subsequent drillhole planning.

Drilling will recommence at Luhuma Central towards the end of September.

A multipurpose rig drilling at HEM 2 has been reconfigured from diamond to RC and moved to HEM 4, with a program of six RC drillholes now under way.

Over the next 4-6 weeks, Adavale expects to release the ground EM survey results, along with assays from HEM2 and RC drilling results from HEM 4.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Adavale Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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