NickelSearch is achieving its strategy of identifying more high-grade nickel sulphides to complement existing resources at Carlingup. Pic: Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
Mining
NickelSearch’s intersection of visible nickel sulphides at its B1 prospect marks the second time that regional drilling has delivered results that warrant immediate follow-up.
It also indicates that the company’s strategy of identifying additional high-grade nickel sulphides to complement existing shallow, large-scale nickel sulphide resources at its Carlingup project near Ravensthorpe, WA, is very much on track.
NickelSearch (ASX:NIS) noted that drilling confirmed and extended the area of known historical nickel sulphide intercepts such as 7m grading 1% nickel and 0.09% copper from 157m (RAVC0162) and 6.1m at 1% nickel and 0.08% copper from 192.6m (DDHB1010).
Additionally, drilling at the Serendipity prospect, which targeted geochemical areas of interest, identified very thick intervals of nickel host rock with the drillholes to be surveyed using downhole electromagnetics (DHEM).
“We have intersected visual nickel sulphide mineralisation and expanded the extent of the nickel mineralisation at B1,” managing director Nicole Duncan said.
“The historical drilling intersected nickel sulphides at over 1% nickel so we are happy to be improving our understanding of the geology and architecture.
“We know we are in the right setting for nickel sulphides and are keen to follow up with diamond drilling in early June.”
The company drilled seven holes totalling 1,108m at B1 with the goal of validating and extending nickel mineralisation identified by historical drilling.
Intersected mineralisation appears to form a shoot on a predictable planar surface that dips very steeply to the southwest.
This occurs as disseminated sulphides in altered cumulate ultramafics.
DHEM of selected holes is planned to locate conductors that may indicate the presence of matrix or massive sulphides.
NickelSearch added that the B1 mineralised horizon appears to stretch for some distance, particularly to the southeast where weak mineralisation is observed on the contact hundreds of metres along strike.
This indicates that the fertile flow is extensive, and the location of a further shoot (or channel) on this horizon where sulphides can accumulate may yield further exploration targets.
At Serendipity, the company drilled three holes totalling 456m to test the ultrafine soil sampling anomalies.
These holes intersected very thick flows of cumulate ultramafic, which was the prime target for the drilling, and DHEM will be completed as a critical next step to identify off-hole conductors for nickel sulphides.
The RC rig is now drilling a pre-collar at the recently developed RAV8 South target before moving to drill two pre-collars at the Sexton prospect.
These pre-collars will be continued by diamond drilling that will begin in early June 2023.
Planned diamond drilling at RAV8 South will test for down plunge extensions to the deposit while drilling at Sexton will follow up on massive sulphides intersected earlier in the year that contain significant nickel mineralisation.
This article was developed in collaboration with NickelSearch, 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.
