Regener8 confirms historical high grade Ni & Co in paleochannel ahead of maiden drilling at East Ponton
Mining
Mining
Special Report: Extensive unexplored paleochannels have been mapped near the Hatlifter prospect at Regener8 Resources’ East Ponton project after combing through historical datasets ahead of a maiden drill program.
Regener8 Resources (ASX:R8R) has focused on digitisation and synthesis of work undertaken by previous explorers within the region – notably Uranerz Australia, AFEMCO and PNC Exploration – who undertook regional-scale U exploration following the discovery of the Mulga Rock uranium deposits in the late 1970s.
The work has been done ahead of a maiden drill program at both the Hatlifter and Grasshopper prospects, and with all relevant heritage clearances and programs of works received, planning is nearing completion for the campaign to get underway.
The high-grade nickel-cobalt mineralisation at Hatlifter, where R8R uncovered historical results of 3m at 1.3% nickel and 0.6% cobalt, shares the paleochannel network and geological similarities with identified Ni-Co mineralisation at Deep Yellow’s (ASX:DYL) Mulga Rock uranium project, that sits 80km upstream from Hatlifter.
Mulga Rock hosts 55,900t nickel, 32,700t cobalt, 41,400t copper and 119,100t of zinc alongside its primary inventory of 71Mlb U3O8 and 47,600t of rare earth oxides.
About 50km of the newly discovered, untested paleochannels meander around Hatlifter and will add to existing, extensive networks that are interpreted to potentially host high grade polymetallic deposits.
While R8R is targeting paleochannel-hosted rich polymetallic deposits at Hatlifter, it’s also eyeing carbonatite-hosted REE-niobium at Grasshopper. Modelling last year at Grasshopper displayed historical results of up to 1698ppm total rare earth oxides with elevated carbonatite pathfinder elements.
R8R says the meandering paleochannels have seen little to no attention in regards to Mulga Rock-type mineralisation.
“The strategic location of Regener8’s East Ponton project showing connectivity downstream from the Ambassador deposit (at Mulga Rock), a significant scale, multi-commodity, proven resource, further encourages the priority of the Hatlifter prospect,” R8R MD Stephen Foley says.
“Historical drilling at Hatlifter previously encountered close to surface intercepts of high-grade Ni and Co enrichment within a paleochannel setting.
“We are eager to test Hatlifter and review its similarities to Mulga Rock, which includes shallow nature of the resource, leading to low-cost mining methods.”
This article was developed in collaboration with Regener8, 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.