Auroch Minerals has kickstarted a ground IP survey over the northern part of its Nepean project, as it awaits a major milestone in drilling at the historic Kalgoorlie nickel mine.

Induced polarisation is a technology that has been around for some time. In fact, it was the technique used by Metals Exploration to discover the original Nepean Nickel Mine back in 1968.

The technology has improved radically over time, but some things remain the same, and Auroch (ASX:AOU) believes the rocks to the north of Nepean will provide a good IP response on the basis of petrophysical testing of drill core samples.

The dipole-dipole IP survey will cover 5.1sqkm over the five northern tenements at Nepean where a geochemistry review highlighted the prospectivity of the ultramafic sequences for nickel sulphide mineralisation.

Those tenements are directly along strike from the Nepean nickel deposit in the south and the Miriam deposit in the north but remain remarkably underexplored in historic drilling.

“We are excited to commence a ground IP survey over the northern area of the Nepean Project,” Auroch managing director Aidan Platel said.

“Our recent geochemical review of the few drill-holes in this area has shown the ultramafic units there are highly prospective for nickel sulphide mineralisation, whilst petrophysical test work we completed on drill-holes close to the historic Nepean nickel mine has demonstrated that IP is an excellent method to find high-grade matrix to disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation.”

Auroch Minerals
The survey lines at the northern Nepean IP survey. Pic: Auroch Minerals

Nepean Deeps drilling nears targets

The start of the IP survey coincides with the assessment of the first major target in drilling at the Nepean Deeps project, with the target expected to be intersected within the next.

The second drill hole in the Nepean Deeps project, NPDD013, is currently at a depth of approximately 450m down-hole, just 100m above the interpreted 1A/1B conductor.

It is the uppermost of three conductive EM plates identified as priority targets in recent downhole EM surveying.

The diamond drill is on schedule to hit the conductor at 550m deep next week.

The 1A/1B plates are located west of and adjacent to the historic Nepean workings, making it a compelling target for nickel sulphide mineralisation.

“At Nepean Deeps, the navigational drilling of NPDD013 has successfully put the hole back on the correct orientation, and we eagerly await to see what the hole intersects when it reaches the 1A/1B DHEM target next week,” Platel said.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Auroch Minerals, 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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