Maximus Resources (ASX:MXR) reports that a recently-completed petrography study has confirmed several nickel sulphide mineral types following RC drilling at its Hilditch West nickel target 25km from BHP’s Kambalda Nickel Operations in Western Australia.
The petrographic analysis was undertaken by Mintex Petrological Solutions to determine key nickel-bearing mineralogy in order to advance geological understanding of the project.
“The company’s maiden RC drill program had earlier intersected multiple zones of ‘encouraging’ shallow nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation”
Drill chips from the RC program were examined by a consultant petrologist at Mintex, with polished thin sections made from each of seven samples. A selection of these were analysed with the scanning electron microscope at the Advanced Analytical Centre within James Cook University.
The study confirmed the presence of a series of sulphides including nickel sulphide, iron sulphide containing nickel, nickel-arsenic sulphide, zinc sulphide and copper sulphide. Cobalt was also detected at trace levels.
The company’s maiden RC drill program at Hilditch West, carried out in July 2021, had earlier intersected multiple zones of ‘encouraging’ shallow nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation, with standout hits including:
- Hole HWRC004: 5m @ 1.2% Ni, 0.23% Cu, 0.08% Co from 43m and, 2m @ 1.5% Ni, 0.03% Co from 87 m and, 19m @ 0.4% Ni, 0.1% Cu, 2.4g/t Ag from 107m
- Hole HWRC003: 12m @ 0.5% Ni, 0.06% Co from 18m, incl. 2m @ 0.8% Ni, 0.2% Cu, 0.06% Co from 21m.
Following drilling, an electromagnetic geophysics survey defined a strong, shallow conductor plate at 9,000 siemens, located north of the above-mentioned nickel-copper-cobalt intercepts.
Maximus reports that Hilditch West remains a priority target, with plans to drill test the EM anomaly during upcoming multi-target diamond drilling.
Images: Maximus Resources Limited
