NickelSearch drilling to test a potentially rich conductor at Carlingup

NickelSearch is preparing to launch high-impact diamond drilling to test a strong DHEM conductor at the Sexton prospect within its Carlingup nickel sulphide project near Ravensthorpe, WA.

There are several reasons why the company is keen to test this conductor, chief of which is its location down-plunge of where previous reverse circulation drilling confirmed the continuity of mineralisation over 150m of plunge and increasing width as it went further down plunge.

Additionally, success will not only extend mineralisation at Sexton, it will also validate NickelSearch’s (ASX:NIS) exploration methodology at Carlingup.

Once drilling at Sexton is completed, the diamond drill rig will move on to test mineralisation further down plunge at the B1 prospect where recent RC drilling had confirmed and extended the area of known historical nickel sulphide intercepts.

“Our next step is to follow up reverse-circulation drilling with diamond drilling, which will improve our understanding of the geology and architecture at these high priority greenfield nickel sulphide targets,” managing director Nicole Duncan said.

“At Sexton, we intersected nickel-bearing massive sulphides in line with historical drilling, and down-plunge drilling suggests the presence of thicker sulphide mineralisation. The strike length of nickel mineralisation at Sexton now extends to 150m and remains open.

“At B1, we confirmed and extended the known nickel mineralisation.

“Overall, these developments are encouraging and demonstrate the potential for further success in our nickel sulphide exploration efforts.”

Following up on nickel drilling success

The company had previously drilled four RC holes at Sexton in January with each hole intersecting nickel sulphide mineralisation consistent with the nearby historical drill intersection of 2.2m at 1.2% nickel and 0.17% copper from 98.2m.

This extended the mineralisation, which remains open both up and down plunge, to a strike length of 150m while showing an increasing width of nickel mineralisation as drilling progressed down-plunge.

Adding further interest, drilling also encountered two distinct bodies of mineralisation – an upper mineralised horizon (UMH) contained mostly disseminated nickel sulphides and a lower mineralised horizon (LMH) containing mostly massive sulphides.

Down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys in two of the holes detected conductive sources that correlated with both the upper and lower mineralised horizons within those holes.

Modelling of the LMH suggested a much stronger anomaly consistent with massive sulphide mineralisation that extends at least 100m further down-plunge to the east-southeast from hole 23NRC012 though its extent is likely constrained by the extent of effectiveness of the DHEM survey.

NickelSearch plans to drill two diamond holes to test this strong EM conductor though they will also test for further nickel sulphide mineralisation within the UMH.

Over at B1, the company drilled seven RC holes that validated and extended nickel mineralisation identified by historical drilling.

This mineralisation, which occurs as disseminated sulphides in altered cumulate ultramafics, forms a linear shoot on a predictable planar surface, dipping very steeply to the southwest.

DHEM surveying of selected holes is planned to locate conductors that may indicate the presence of matrix or massive sulphides and improve the company’s understanding of the mineralisation’s geometry as well as potentially delineate further drill targets.

Further activity

The company also intends to carry out drilling at its key RAV8 exploration target during the coming wet months where drilling at other targets may not be possible due to adverse weather conditions.

RAV8 is a historical open pit and underground nickel sulphide mine that produced 468,131t at 3.45% nickel for 16,129t of contained nickel between 2000 and 2007

It hosts down plunge extensions and structural repeats of mineralised shoots also likely to be high grade.

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.