Alma is another step closer towards being granted access to carry out initial copper exploration activities over about 1,000km2 of Western Australia’s East Kimberley region.

It follows the company executing a Heritage Protection Agreement (HPA) with the Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC which sets strong cultural protocols for its to seek clearance and subsequently undertake authorised reconnaissance activities.

Both parties have also executed a Negotiation and Funding Agreement which sets the protocols for the negotiation of a subsequent exploration joint venture agreement.

Alma Metals (ASX:ALM) has applied for five exploration licences to the west of the Cambridge Gulf, a geological setting that is highly prospective for sediment-hosted copper mineralisation with numerous known occurrences identified during government mapping in the 1960’s that have never been evaluated.

Subject to HPA clearances, the company plans to start reconnaissance activities this month in parallel with negotiations for the exploration JV.

“We are pleased to have reached a preliminary access agreement with the Balanggarra People, the traditional owners and Native Title holders of these lands,” managing director Frazer Tabeart said.

“The area is highly prospective for copper mineralisation, and we look forward to conducting our preliminary programs in this first-mover province.”

Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC said the company has so far worked respectfully and collaboratively including the commitment to step away if it considered the project to not be feasible.

East Kimberley project

Government mapping of the east Kimberley in the 1960’s identified numerous copper occurrences over approximately 100km of strike extent within the project area.

All occurrences are associated with the shale units of the Elgee Siltstone and glauconitic sandstones at the base of the Middle Pentecost Sandstone

The project area covers a number of sub-basin structural settings which are considered prospective for concentrations of copper and also overlie potential copper source rocks of the Carson Volcanics.

Alma plans to carry out in late September an initial helicopter-supported reconnaissance trip to visit several known copper occurrences and to undertake logistics planning for more detailed work.

It will then carry out a helicopter-supported stream sediment sampling program to collect between 400-800 samples over most of the project area.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Alma 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.

 

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