First pass aircore drilling at the Whaleshark Copper-Gold Project in Western Australia has outlined large multi-element anomalies in several elements associated with IOCG mineralisation.

Aircore drilling was completed during August and September, testing beneath mobile metal ion (MMI) soil anomalism identified during 2021.

A total of 60 holes were completed, mostly across the main MMI anomaly – otherwise known as Target A – however the program was shortened due to slow penetration rates and the discovery of potential heritage sites at the southern edge of the survey area.

Target B therefore remains untested by drilling at this stage.

Drilling intersected silcrete and/or limestone, unconsolidated black mudstone and basal gravels, which commonly contain sulphides, before intersecting Proterozoic basement rocks including biotite granodiorite, biotite schist and occasional mafic rocks.

Sulphides, predominantly pyrite, were also observed in the basement rocks in several holes.

Scale and magnitude similar to Ernest Henry IOCG deposit

Miramar (ASX:M2R) executive chairman Allan Kelly says the aircore drilling results had been successful in mapping the geology of the basement rocks, as well as confirming the potential for Whaleshark to host significant IOCG mineralisation.

“The first pass aircore drilling at Whaleshark has successfully outlined large multi-element anomalies in several elements generally associated with IOCG mineralisation,” Kelly explains.

“The scale, magnitude and suite of elements seen at Whaleshark is very similar to the large Ernest Henry IOCG deposit in Queensland, which is our target at Whaleshark.

“We are therefore eager to get back to Whaleshark next year and refine targets for deeper RC and/or diamond drilling.”

The nitty gritty

Several strongly anomalous and/or overlapping results were seen including in copper (up to 166.9ppm), gold (up to 0.164ppm), cobalt (up to 146.8ppm), molybdenum (up to 16.3ppm), uranium (up to 18.62ppm) and tungsten (up to 335ppm).

Each of the aircore anomalies is approximately 500m x 500m.

Significantly, some of the highest copper and cobalt results occur in WSAC008 and 011, adjacent to a discrete gravity anomaly in the “neck” of the granitoid intrusion

Holes WSAC018, 020 and 042 returned strongly anomalous results from several pathfinder elements alongside the elevated copper numbers.

Hole WSAC055 returned strongly elevated lanthanum and cerium from a granodiorite at the eastern edge of the survey.

The highest gold result, 1m at 0.16ppm gold came from basal gravels in WSAC041, which is located towards the southern edge of the survey.

Looking ahead

Miramar plans to conduct further work at Whaleshark in 2023, with the aim of refining targets for deeper bedrock RC and/or diamond drilling, including completing a heritage survey as well as moving loop EM surveys over the MMI anomalies.

Further air core drilling, including at Target B for the first time, will also be undertaken.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Miramar 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.