- High-powered EM surveys are about to kick off at Storm
- Multiple targets identified with high-grade copper and zinc
- RC drilling preparations being finalised
Special Report: Field crews have arrived at American West Metals’ Storm copper-zinc project in Nunavut, Canada carrying with them high-powered moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) kits ready to deliver priority drill-ready targets.
The 4,000km2 Storm project is American West Metals’ (ASX:AW1) flagship asset containing four prospects amounting to 17.5Mt @ 1.2% copper and 3.4g/t silver (0.35% copper cut-off) for 205,000t of contained copper and 1.9Moz silver.
AW1’s drive to build resources begins with a program of moving loop electromagnetic surveys (MLEM), which map the electrical conductivity below the Earth’s surface to provide a detailed 3D picture – similar to a CT scan.
Electromagnetic geophysical surveys (EM) have been confirmed by drilling as the most effective targeting tool in the exploration for high-grade copper sulphides at the Storm project, AW1 says.
In fact, drilling of historical EM anomalies indicate a 100% correlation between EM targets and high-grade (+2%) copper sulphides.
The surveys will start at the existing Storm copper deposits to identify targets for resource expansion both along strike and beneath known high-grade mineralisation.
MLEM surveys will then focus on regional exploration with plans to cover to screen the regional Blizzard, Tornado and Tempest prospects, where “multiple strong indicators of potential copper mineralisation have already been identified”.
Tornado, for example, is a Storm analogue centred on an area with abundant chalcocite and malachite (both important copper ore minerals) boulders within a 3.2km x 1.5km geochemical copper anomaly.
The Storm copper deposits and target areas. Pic supplied: (AW1)
What’s next then?
AW1 recently secured $10m to expand exploration and prove up further resources and says the high-powered EM survey will give it “excellent potential” to look deeper and deliver results in preparation for upcoming RC drilling.
“With boots now on the ground, the start is imminent for an exciting 2024 field program at Storm with a schedule of geophysics and drilling on a scale that is designed to significantly grow the copper resources,” AW1 MD Dave O’Neill says.
“The fieldwork will kick off with high-powered MLEM surveys to define the key areas for resource expansion of the known copper mineralisation.
“With a total of 90 line km of surveys planned, we believe the EM work will generate a pipeline of new targets for drill testing and demonstrate the outstanding discovery potential of our underexplored project.”
Commencement of drilling at Storm are also being finalised with tracked Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling planned to begin shortly.
This article was developed in collaboration with American West Metals, 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.