• New untested electromagnetic conductors identified in VTEM survey at Yarmany project
  • Reptile Dam rockchip sampling returns up to 0.64% nickel and 1402ppm copper
  • MHK readies for maiden drilling program

  

A helicopter borne Versatile Time-Domain Electro-Magnetic (VTEM) survey has identified 11 strong bedrock conductors at the Yarmany project, which could be prospective for nickel sulphide mineralisation.  

Metal Hawk’s (ASX:MHK) Yarmany project covers 282km2 along the Ida Fault, a major regional structure and crustal boundary between the Kalgoorlie and Youanmi Terranes.

The tenure has 50km of strike potential and has seen very little nickel sulphide and lithium exploration activities since the 1970s.

MHK is on a mission to fast-track plans for both nickel and lithium drilling, starting with an electromagnetic survey – the first of its kind to ever be carried out on the project.

 

Plans to drill test targets  

Airborne electromagnetic surveys map the electrical conductivity below the Earth’s surface to a depth of several hundred metres – sometimes up to 2km below the surface in more favourable conditions.

This provides a detailed 3D picture – similar to a CT scan – that is used to map potential resources.

So far, the survey has identified 11 strong bedrock conductors, which are considered high priority targets for drilling.

Whilst geophysical processing and interpretation of data is continuing, Metal Hawk is getting things ready to drill test a selection of targets with a combination of aircore and reverse circulation drilling.

Follow-up ground EM surveys will be planned over priority ultramafic target areas where more detail and conductor definition is required.

 

‘Within and adjacent to ultramafic rock units’

MHK managing director Will Belbin says the company is pleased it has picked up so many strong late time anomalies.

“Importantly, some of these conductors appear to be located within and adjacent to targeted ultramafic rock units,” he says.

“We are currently investigating these anomalies on the ground in order to determine the most suitable positions for drill testing.

“We are also highly encouraged by the gossan sample results received from Reptile Dam and will be following up these very strong nickel-copper anomalies, which show the prospectivity of the ultramafic rocks that extend south along the Yarmany project for nearly 50 kilometres.”

 

Reptile Dam results

Gossanous rockchip samples from the Reptile Dam prospect, situated at the northern end of the Yarmany Project, have returned highly anomalous results up to 0.64% nickel and 1402pm copper.

These strong levels of coincident nickel and copper anomalism suggest that the largely untested Reptile Dam ultramafic unit has potential to host accumulations of nickel sulphide mineralisation.

 

What’s next on the agenda?

MHK has plans for further work at Reptile Dam, including ground electromagnetic surveys and RC drilling designed to test for both nickel and pegmatite-hosted lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) mineralisation.

Historical drilling at the prospect identified thick intervals of pegmatite units, up to 49.7m of downhole thickness, which were not assayed for lithium.

The company plans to update investors on regional lithium exploration in conjunction with the nickel sulphide exploration.

Following final processing of geophysical VTEM data, further interpretation and nickel sulphide target generation will be conducted.

Combining the final VTEM results with the lithostructural interpretation will allow Metal Hawk to rank the targets for drill-testing. Field checking and validation of VTEM anomalies is underway.

PoW applications have been lodged for Metal Hawk’s maiden drill program at Yarmany, with drilling scheduled for Q4 2023.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Metal Hawk, 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.

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