Sabre Resources (ASX:SBR) has begun a new drilling program at its Sherlock Bay Nickel Sulphide Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The ASX-listed explorer says the new program will consist of at least 2,000m of diamond drilling to test a ‘strong’ conductor extending for 1km to the southwest of the current Discovery nickel sulphide resource that was identified from a recent moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) survey.
This new EM anomaly is reported to be the ‘strongest’ conductor detected to date from surface at the project, and as a result, Sabre says it represents a major new drill target prospective for further massive/matrix breccia sulphide mineralisation.
Further, the drilling program is aiming to define additional targets to upgrade the project’s existing Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).
Sabre has also kicked off a metallurgical testwork program in parallel with the resource upgrade drilling. The company says this program will examine the potential to produce ‘high-grade’ nickel sulphide concentrate.
Commenting on the new drilling program, Sabre Resources Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jon Dugdale says: “We are excited to get our new drilling program underway, especially given the new strong EM target that we have identified to the west of the current sulphide resource zones offers potential for a multi-million-tonne sulphide discovery which could enhance Sherlock Bay’s development economics.
In addition, the metallurgical testwork program we have commenced will test the potential for Sabre to produce in-demand nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide concentrate for downstream processing into class-1 nickel for renewable energy battery markets.
“The new EM anomaly is one of multiple targets we have identified at Sherlock Bay which offer potential to significantly upgrade and expand the existing resource base”
The new EM anomaly is one of multiple targets we have identified at Sherlock Bay which offer potential to significantly upgrade and expand the existing resource base, building on the circa 100,000 tonnes of contained nickel already in the mineral resource inventory.”
Sabre Resources is an ASX-listed exploration and development company focused on its ‘highly’ prospective portfolio of nickel sulphide and gold assets in Western Australia, along with its uranium and base metals prospects in the Northern Territory.
The company’s flagship Sherlock Bay Nickel Sulphide Project is located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and hosts a mineral resource of 24.6 million tonnes @ 0.40% Ni, 0.09% Cu, and 0.02% Co (0.47% nickel-equivalent), containing 99,200 tonnes of nickel, 21,700 tonnes of copper, and 5,400 tonnes of cobalt (117,000 tonnes of nickel-equivalent).
This includes a measured resource of 12.48 million tonnes @ 0.38% Ni, 0.11% Cu, and 0.025% Co; an indicated resource of 6.1 million tonnes @ 0.59% Ni, 0.08% Cu, and 0.022% Co; and an inferred resource of 6.1 million tonnes @ 0.27% Ni, 0.06% Cu, and 0.01% Co.
Write to Harry Mulholland at Mining.com.au
Images: Sabre Resources Ltd
