Norwest’s Bali copper hunt is now underway

Copper is on the menu as Norwest’s maiden drilling program at the Bali project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region gets underway.

The 4,000m reverse circulation program will test four high priority targets along the main Bali shear zone which were identified from historical drill intercepts averaging 6.3% copper and topping up at 6m grading 7.17% copper.

Earthworks have cleared tracks and drill sites along the Bali Lo, Bali High, Bali East and Bali South copper drill targets while providing access to the Deep South tenement area where no previous exploration has been recorded.

Mapping and rock sampling is underway in the Deep South area and has already identified several copper bearing structures.

Norwest Minerals (ASX:NWM) chief executive officer Charles Schaus said the drill program – the first undertaken at Bali since 1989 – has been highly anticipated due to the high-grade copper reported in shallow drilling undertaken by previous explorers.

“We will be drill testing below the historical holes at Bali High and Bali Lo as well as drilling the virgin ground at Bali East and Bali South,” he added.

“Norwest is also mapping and sampling the ‘Deep South’ area where unexplored ground has been made accessible via earthworks recently completed by the company.”

Historical copper potential

The wholly-owned Bali copper project covers 41km2 about 75km west of Paraburdoo and has been the subject of small-scale mining between the 1950s and 1960s.

While what limited historical drilling has been restricted to depths of less than 30m, it has returned high-grade intersections.

Previous sampling by the company has also highlighted the potential for high-grade copper with 33 samples reporting above 5% copper while 17 samples had more than 10% copper with a top result of 36.8% copper.

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.