S2 Resources (ASX:S2R), together with joint venture partner Black Raven Mining, has signed a Heritage Protection Agreement (HPA) with the Wajarri Yamaji people, the traditional owners of the Jillewarra area near Meekatharra.
This milestone clears the way for the Western Australian Department of Mines, Petroleum, and Exploration (DMPE) to grant key exploration licences within the Jillewarra Project.
The licences cover 35km of strike of the Karbah shear zone (KSZ), which the company notes is undercover and unexplored but is considered prospective for gold.
The KSZ has been interpreted as a local expression of a similar regional structure hosting multi-million ounce gold deposits in the south, including Westgold’s (ASX:WGX) 2.4 million ounce gold mine and Ramelius Resources’ (ASX:RMS) 2.9 million ounce operations.
The DMPE will now proceed with the granting process which is expected to be completed within two months.
S2 is commencing to plan for heritage surveys as a prerequisite to starting ground exploration.
The initial exploration plans consist of 30,000m of aircore drilling, covering select parts of the 35km of strike. This program will be the first of several for first-pass coverage of the project area.
This HPA will serve as a template for another agreement with the same traditional owners at another wholly owned licence agreement to the north.
S2 Resources is focused on the discovery and development of ‘high value’ mineral resources through exploration and identification of early stage assets with growth potential.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: S2 Resources
