GCX Metals (ASX:GCX) has commenced a high-resolution airborne magnetics survey to better define mineralised systems at its newly acquired Dante Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Element (PGE) Project in Western Australia.
The company will fly approximately 900-line kilometres at 50m intervals over ‘high-priority’ target areas where historical surveys were carried out at 200m and 100m intervals. GCX says the magnetics and radiometric geophysical data will help to define precious metal-bearing reefs, as well as other prospective intrusions and key structures.
Once collected, the data will help refine targets for a maiden drilling program in 2024, for which heritage clearances have recently been completed. A program of works (PoW) submitted to WA’s Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) remains subject to approval.
The survey follows the completion of a reconnaissance rock chip sampling campaign that saw the collection of 250 samples across the western half of the Dante Project, where exploration efforts are currently prioritised. This region is thought to contain roughly 23km of outcropping reefs that previously returned high-grade precious metals, along with anomalous copper, nickel, and cobalt.
Some 4km of the 23km stretch was targeted during the sampling campaign, and the chips have been sent to Bureau Veritas in Perth for analysis. Results of the lab work are expected in 6 to 8 weeks.
“A lot of ground was covered during this trip, with more than 250 rock chip samples collected systematically across several kilometres of strike. However, this marks only a small fraction of prospective strike at Dante,” GCX Managing Director and CEO Thomas Line says.
“A lot of ground was covered during this trip, with more than 250 rock chip samples collected systematically across several kilometres of strike”
“One key feature that was noted on this trip was large outcrops of prospective reef which does not show up in the current magnetics and which appear to have had little historical sampling. Several gossans were also noted along the outcropping reefs.”
GCX signed a deal to acquire the Dante Nickel-Copper-PGE Project at the end of August, and it was completed at the end of October following shareholder approval.
Located in the West Musgrave region of WA, the Dante Project is considered highly prospective for Nebo-Babel-style and Julimar/Gonneville-style deposits, and it boasts a signed Native Title Agreement with the Ngaanyatjarra Land Council that offers a fast-tracked pathway to drilling.
In addition to Dante, GCX owns the 567km-square Onslow Gold Project in northwest WA.
Write to Oliver Gray at Mining.com.au
Images: GCX Metals
