Hexagon identifies nickel-copper targets at McIntosh

Hexagon has highlighted several high priority nickel-copper targets at its McIntosh project in WA’s Kimberley region following a structural and geochemical review.

The McIntosh project area has proven nickel-copper-platinum group metal potential, with known occurrences and deposits including the third-party +2Moz Panton PGM project.

A review has been carried out by Hexagon Energy Materials (ASX:HXG) as part of its commitment to maximise the value of its asset package.

Notable targets include Mabel Hill and Jackal, where historical drilling returned results like 27m at 0.34% nickel and 0.1% copper and 12m at 1.32% nickel and 0.2% copper.

There is also the Melon Patch North and Winson prospects, where significant rock chip samples were returned.

“The findings from the current review highlight the significant potential of the McIntosh Project to host further Ni-Cu-PGM mineralisation, in an area where recent exploration has been graphite focused,” chairman Charles Whitfield said.

“The exploration program at McIntosh will run concurrently with the continuing Prefeasibility Study at the Pedirka blue hydrogen project in the Northern Territory, where we continue to make positive progress, and exploration activities currently being undertaking at Halls Creek.”

He added that while Hexagon had previously considered a farm-out of McIntosh, the review indicated that the project was too good an opportunity for the company to lower its interest in at this stage.

The company will now start detailed structural and geological mapping over the project area.

McIntosh project

While historical exploration largely focused on the northeast-southwest striking Panton stratigraphy, Hexagon’s structural review has highlighted the northwest-southeast trending faults that transect the McIntosh Intrusive complex as potential targets.

Melon Patch North is a discrete “bullseye” nickel-copper soil anomaly with historical rock chips results topping at 1.5% nickel and 4% copper.

Previous drilling intersected broad zones of low-medium grade disseminated nickel and copper sulphide while electromagnetic surveys identified two conductors that were classified as having a graphitic source.

A subsequent induced polarisation survey highlighted the presence of several well-defined chargeability anomalies.

Despite this, none of these geophysical anomalies have been drill tested.

The Melon Patch and Winston target areas cover about 14sqkm and are located immediately northeast of the McIntosh intrusion and 5km south of Melon Patch North.

Since its discovery in the 1970s by Anglo American, Melon Patch has been subject to several drilling campaigns focusing on its PGM potential.

Winston was also discovered by Anglo American with rock chips returning up to 25% copper and 0.4% nickel though follow-up ground EM has failed to define a conductor and the target has yet to be drill tested.

Mabel Hill and Jackal are located along the eastern margins of a linear mafic intrusion.

Upcoming activity

The focus of Hexagon’s detailed structural and geological mapping is on ground truthing targets and areas of interest that were highlighted in the recently completed review.

As part of this work, the company has engaged highly experienced structural geologist Dr Mark Rieuwers, who has 15 years’ experience in the mining and exploration industry, mainly working on nickel sulphide systems, within Australia.

Once mapping is completed, Hexagon will carry out a soil sampling program over a number of high-priority areas including Melon Patch and Mabel Hill.

It has also commissioned Zion Geophysics’ Dave Johnson to undertake a review and reinterpretation of historical airborne and ground geophysical data.

This article was developed in collaboration with Hexagon Energy Materials, 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.