Norwest’s Bali project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region is proving to be a real winner with rock chip sampling extending multiple copper-rich vein structures to a strike length of 3.2km.
These veins across the Deep South and Conglomerate prospects returned an average copper grade of 19% with many rock chips returning strong gold tenor topping up at 6.7 grams per tonne (g/t).
Adding further interest, Norwest Minerals (ASX:NWM) sampling has also identified a conglomerate unit measuring up to 5m wide and extending 700m along strike with an average of 18% copper.
The structures are associated with near vertical dipping, laterally extensive, narrow shears zones striking northwest-southeast parallel to the main Bali Shear.
“The copper rich structures discovered in Bali’s south clearly represent exciting drill targets,” chief executive officer Charles Schaus said.
“The impressive copper grades from the Deep South and Conglomerate prospects show excellent continuity along the mapped structures suggesting our high-risk grass roots exploration may soon deliver substantial rewards to Norwest shareholders.”
Applications for Heritage clearance across the proposed drill sites have been submitted with the study to commence prior to the end of the quarter. Drilling is expected to commence shortly thereafter.
Copper riches
The Bali project comprises about 8km of the Bali shear zone; a major structure extending through the region and hosting numerous copper and other base metal prospects.
Norwest’s drilling at the Bali Lo, Bali East and Bali South prospects had returned broad intervals of significant near-surface copper mineralisation such as 52m at 1.4% copper from surface including 12m at 4.4% copper from 4m.
Drilling at Bali High also included lead, zinc and silver with top hits of 5m at 1.5% copper, 5.5% zinc including 4m at 8% palladium from a down-hole depth of 35m.
Bali Lo and Bali High copper prospects saw small-scale mining in the 1960s followed by some shallow drilling while Bali East and Bali South were both identified by very high-grade copper in rock chips reported by the company in 2018.
This article was developed in collaboration with Norwest Minerals, 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.