Chalice Mining Limited (ASX: CHN | OTCQB: CGMLF) announced that the ongoing exploration activities at its 100%-owned Julimar Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Element Project in WA have delivered further growth in high-grade zones.
The company said that the drilling has expanded the G4-G11 high-grade zones to the north-east and the G1-G2 zones down-dip, while infill drilling continued to demonstrate the large-scale resource potential of the Gonneville deposit.
CHN said that the ~160,000m step-out and resource definition drilling program at the Gonneville Intrusion is ongoing, with 7 drill rigs. The company has now reported the assay results for 40 diamond and 191 RC holes.
Standout results included 13.4m @ 6.3g/t Pd, 1.1g/t Pt, 1.3% Ni, 0.7% Cu, 0.07% Co from 405.7m; 13m @ 4.7g/t Pd, 1.0g/t Pt, 0.4g/t Au, 0.2% Ni, 2.2% Cu, 0.02% Co from 144m; and 5m @ 2.5g/t Pd, 0.9g/t Pt, 0.1g/t Au, 0.2% Ni, 0.2% Cu, 0.02% Co from 67m.
Chalice said that the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate is now anticipated in late Q3 2021
CHN reported that reconnaissance exploration and environmental surveys in the Julimar State Forest are continuing, initial drilling targeted for Q3 2021, subject to access approvals. The company said that a Study Manager for the Project has been appointed.
Drilling at Gonneville intrusion
Chalice had commenced a ~160,000m step-out and resource definition drilling program at the ~1.8km x >0.9km Gonneville Intrusion with 7 drill rigs, three reverse circulation (RC), and four diamond rigs.
Drilling expands high-grade zones
The company said that the drilling has expanded the G4-G11 high-grade zones to the north-east and the G1-G2 zones down-dip, while infill drilling continued to confirm the current geological interpretation.
The maximum dimensions and status of high-grade zones at Gonneville are as follows: G4: >1,250m of strike length x up to 600m of dip extent, open north along strike and down-dip; G5: >650m of strike length x up to 270m of dip extent, open north along strike; G6: >875m of strike length x up to 450m of dip extent, open north along strike and down-dip; G9: >500m of strike length x up to 250m of dip extent, open along strike and down-dip; and G11: >1,200m of strike length x up to 300m of dip extent, open north along strike and down-dip
High-grade drill results
CHN said that results have been received for drilling targeting shallow north-east extensions of the footwall contact (G4 and G11) zones; northern and down-dip extensions to the G1-G10 zones; the non-magnetic north-western part of the Gonneville Intrusion (initial wide-spaced lines); and infill of the footwall contact zones (G3 and G11) as well as the G6 and G7 zones.
The company reported 165 new high-grade drill intersections from 71 new drill holes. The 165 high-grade palladium intervals (>2m width and >1g/t Pd cut-off grade) comprised 35 high-grade Pd-Ni-Cu intervals (>2m width, >1g/t Pd and >0.5% Ni+Cu cut-off grade).
Important hits included of 13.4m @ 6.3g/t Pd, 1.1g/t Pt, 1.3% Ni, 0.7% Cu, 0.07% Co from 405.7m (JD032, G1 & G2); 13m @ 4.7g/t Pd, 1.0g/t Pt, 0.4g/t Au, 0.2% Ni, 2.2% Cu, 0.02% Co from 144m (JRC163, G11); 12m @ 2.6g/t Pd, 1.4g/t Pt, 0.8g/t Au, 0.2% Ni, 0.9% Cu, 0.01% Co from 138m (JD035, G11); 45m @ 1.7g/t Pd, 0.6g/t Pt, 0.2g/t Au, 0.1% Ni, 0.1% Cu, 0.01% Co from 216m (JD035, G4); 29m @ 1.4g/t Pd, 0.5g/t Pt, 0.1g/t Au, 0.2% Ni, 0.1% Cu, 0.02% Co from 115m (JD039, G11); 23m @ 1.7g/t Pd, 0.4g/t Pt, 0.2g/t Au, 0.2% Ni, 0.2% Cu, 0.01% Co from 177m (JD039, G4); 17m @ 1.5g/t Pd, 0.2g/t Pt, 0.3g/t Au, 0.2% Ni, 0.4% Cu, 0.02% Co from 207m (JD039, G4); and 5m @ 2.5g/t Pd, 0.9g/t Pt, 0.1g/t Au, 0.2% Ni, 0.2% Cu, 0.02% Co from 67m (JRC148, new zone).
Assay results pending for a further 94 completed drill holes.
Updates and next steps
The company said that reconnaissance soil sampling, ground gravity, and environmental surveys are continuing in the Julimar State Forest to the north of Gonneville as part of planning for additional exploration activities as well as providing baseline information for future studies.
CHN said that the ongoing and planned activities at Julimar include resource definition drilling, metallurgical testwork, mining studies, and marketing studies.
The company said that it has engaged the Geological Survey of WA (GSWA) and a specialist consultant to conduct initial geochemical analysis and metallogenesis studies. This work aims to improve the geological and mineralogical understanding of the discovery and enhance the targeting capability as the company search for similar discoveries across its large land holding in the West Yilgarn Ni-Cu-PGE Province.
Chalice said that diamond and RC drilling will continue to test high-priority targets including EM conductors. CHN said that further drilling along strike and down dip may occur at these and other targets depending on results.
The company said that down-hole EM surveying will be carried out on the majority of diamond and selective RC drill holes to test for off-hole conductors. Subsequent holes will undergo down-hole EM if required.
The company said that given the growth in the mineralised footprint, the quantum of resource drilling required to define the discovery is expected to increase and a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate is now anticipated in late Q3 2021.
Image Source: Chalice Mining Limited