Fathom Nickel (CSE:FNI) is currently testing a new discovery and geologic model at the Gochager Lake Project in Canada, through a second-phase drilling program, after receiving recent assay results.
The nickel-copper-cobalt assay results from metasedimentary-hosted mineralisation suggest a new geologic model for the historical Gochager Lake deposit, while also expanding its geologic footprint.
Current interpretation indicates that the mineralisation, along with elevated magnesium and chrome in these mafic metasediments — the likely source of anomaly A, is more extensive across the property than previously recognised.
CEO Ian Fraser says intersecting the nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation in drill hole GL26025 came as a surprise for the company.
“We have spent the last couple of weeks digesting this new information and have come to the realisation that the metasedimentary rocks engulfing the ‘Gochager’ intrusive rocks are now very prospective for nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation,” Fraser says.
“The metasediment-hosted mineralisation is the result of nickel-copper-cobalt being transposed from the original mafic intrusive rocks into the adjacent metasedimentary rocks. This makes the contact of mineralised metasediments with Gochager Lake intrusive rocks a new, very prospective exploration target.”
Fraser notes that the recent development is akin to a Thompson Nickel Belt geological model, where mineralisation occurs in intrusive rocks and in predominantly metasedimentary rocks.
The company looks forward to testing this hypothesis in the current drilling program.
Previous work
Phase one drilling expanded the Gochager mafic-ultramafic intrusive system to at least 1,500m of strike and further highlights its geological complexity.
Fathom Nickel says the program also provided the first evidence that parts of the system were locally sulphur-saturated, with subsequent post-saturation processes stripping nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation from the mafic-ultramafic intrusions and remobilising it into the surrounding metasedimentary host rocks.
This increases the potential to discover mineralisation along strike from the deposit, with strong upside remaining at the southwest and northeast ends of the intrusion. The results also improve Fathom Nickel’s understanding of the mineralising process and will help guide the search for major nickel-copper-cobalt concentrations within the expanding magmatic nickel sulphide system.
Gochager Lake is a 33,629-hectare property located 75km north-northeast of La Ronge and 22km west-northwest of Missinipe, Canada.
Fathom Nickel is a mineral explorer focused on targeting magmatic nickel sulphide discoveries to secure the supply of North American critical minerals and to support the global green energy transition.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Fathom Nickel
