Maximus kicks off synchronised gold and nickel drilling in WA

RC drilling is under way at Maximus’ Hilditch gold project and Kandui nickel prospect, follows recent 250% resource increase at the Wattle Dam Gold Project.
Hilditch represents a near-term production opportunity in WA
Drilling expected to add resources to the Company’s group resources of 320,600 oz
Maximus is also on the hunt for high-grade zones of nickel sulphides at Kandui

Maximus Resources has commenced a ~1,500m Reverse Circulation (RC) drill program across it’s Hilditch gold project and Kandui nickel prospect in WA.

Following on from Maximus recent 250% increase in gold resource the Company has started drill programme across one of their prospective regional gold targets.

Hilditch is just one of the highly prospective regional gold deposits in Maximus Resources’ (ASX:MXR) Spargoville tenements and currently comprises a shallow resource of 132,000t at 1.77 g/t Au for 7,511oz of gold.

Hilditch presents a near-term production opportunity for the company, especially given the ease of access to its shallow gold resource and its location close to several toll-treating gold operations.

It’s also smack bang on the fertile Spargoville Shear Zone, between Karora Resources’ (TSX:KRR) high-grade Spargo’s Reward gold project and sits ~9km north of the company’s 251,500oz Wattle Dam gold project.

Targeting shallow gold-bearing lodes

This seven-hole (~850m) drilling campaign will target two previously identified parallel lodes to bolster the gold resource.

Last year, Maximus turned up drill hits of:

7m at 7.9 g/t Au from 51m, including 2m at 16.9 g/t from 52m (HGRC019);
7m at 3.7 g/t Au from 11m, including 1m at 18.6 g/t from 16m (HGRC024); and
6m at 3.4 g/t Au from 30m, including 2m at 8.1 g/t from 34m (HGRC023).

“This latest drill program follows up on previous drilling at Hilditch, which successfully identified two previously unknown gold-bearing lodes,” managing director Tim Wither said.

“Current gold resources at Hilditch are shallow and this drill program specifically targets the extension of all known lodes.

“Hilditch’s shallow gold resource is very amenable to rapid open pit mining, with this latest drill program designed for a potential resource update.”

Maximus Resources ASX MXR — Hilditch gold project. Source: MXR.

Simultaneous drilling at Kandui

Drilling is also under way at the Kandui nickel prospect which is located northwest of the Spargoville and Mt Edwards nickel deposits.

Some deposits of note in this district include Cassini, Miitel, Wannaway, Mt Edwards and Andrews Shaft.

Legacy drill intersections at Kandui include:

2m at 2.4% Ni and 0.5% Cu from 74m (HRC025);
4m at 1.8% Ni and 0.5% Cu from 25m (HRC052);
2m at 1.2% Ni from 1m (HRC002); and
2m at 1.0% Ni from 74m (HRC041).

The seven-hole drill program under way is targeting the potential plunge of several higher-grade zones in the known mineralisation and geochemical anomalies located to the north in areas that have not been drilled before.

“Significant nickel mineralisation was previously identified at Kandui, and recent geological modelling suggests opportunities for a high-grade shoot,” Wither said.

“Legacy exploration focused on outcropping nickel-bearing gossans which may not be the true basal contact position, and this program will provide information vital to assessing the potential for high-grade zones of nickel sulphides.

“Drilling will also incorporate an untested area, identified through elevated PGE soil sampling.”

Looking forwards

The drill program is expected to take 1-2 weeks to complete, with assay results expected in 4-6 weeks following sample submission.

On receipt of the assay results, the additional information may be used for the remodelling of the Hilditch gold mineral resource estimate and additional modelling of the Kandui nickel prospect.

This article was developed in collaboration with Maximus 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.