Si6 Metals Limited (ASX: Si6) announced that the exploration activities have recommenced at its Maibele Project in Botswana, Southern Africa.
The company said that 20km2 of detailed Gradient Array Induced Polarisation survey was completed and numerous new, strong chargeability anomalies were highlighted.
Si6 said that multiple Cu-Ag and Ni-Cu-PGE targets were also generated. The company said that follow up geophysics and percussion drilling is planned for Q1.
Maibele project
The Maibele project is located in Botswana in Southern Africa. Si6 is currently carrying out field exploration programs at the Maibele Project targeting nickel, copper, cobalt, PGE, and silver mineralisation.
IP survey at Maibele
Si6 Metals said that it had completed 20km2of Gradient Array Induced Polarisation (IP) surveying at its Airstrip and Dibete Prospects and continued deep drilling at its advanced prospects within the Botswana portfolio during December 2020.
The IP survey was designed to test for deep sulphide bodies that are potentially ‘feeding’ the high-grade mineralisation observed close to surface, covered over 20 km2 at 100m line-spacing across the two prospects.
The company said that the results from geophysical surveying are now available and diamond drilling is progressing to over 320m depth.
Encouraging results from IP survey
Si6 said that the results from both Airstrip and Dibete are very encouraging and show strong chargeability responses that are often coincident with elevated copper levels in soil sampling and, in some cases, high-grade copper and silver mineralisation in drill holes.
Airstrip prospect
Si6 said that at the Airstrip Prospect, several prominent chargeability anomalies were highlighted in 2D surface imagery of the IP survey results, which included Anomaly 1, Anomaly 2, and Anomaly 3.
The company said that the Anomaly 1 at Airstrip demonstrated high chargeability zones extending along strike towards the Maibele North Ni-Cu-PGE orebody, while Anomaly 2 presented as a large area of multiple strong chargeability responses in the southwest corner of the survey area. The company said that Anomaly 3 is a NE-trending, >1km long linear chargeability high, directly associated with a strong NE-trending copper-in-soil anomaly.
Dibete prospect
The company said that Dibete prospect displayed three zones of significant chargeability response – Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3.
Si6 said that Zone 1 is a prominent, >2km long NE-trending linear chargeability high occurring coincident with previously drilled shallow high-grade copper-silver mineralisation, extending along strike to the NE and SW; while Zone 2 and Zone 3 anomalies are spatially associated with a NW-trending dolerite dyke which might have important implications for the presence of sulphide copper mineralisation.
Similar to Messina copper deposits
The company said that the high-grade copper and silver mineralisation at both Airstrip and Dibete appears to be very similar in style and geology to the historically significant Messina Copper Deposits located approximately 230km to the south-east in South Africa.
Follow-up survey planned
The company said that a follow up survey of a series of Audio-magnetic Tellurics (AMT) or dipole-dipole IP traverses at each prospect is planned to resolve accurate depth to chargeability targets. Si6 Metals said that it then intends to mobilise a Reverse Circulation rig to site to test the chargeability anomalies.
Latest updates and next steps
Si6 said the ~550m deep hole targeting deep nickel sulphide mineralisation has progressed to approximately 320m prior to Christmas. The main target in this hole is expected at around 400m to 500m down hole.
The company said that the focus on future work will be to ultimately generate targets for drilling. The company said that work to enable this will include further soil sampling programs, mapping, and trenching coupled with ground geophysics to locate bodies of sulphides beneath the surface. SI6 said that if sufficient encouragement is gained from this work, deeper RC or diamond drilling is anticipated.
Management comments
Si6 Metals Chairman Patrick Holywell said: “The results achieved from the IP studies carried out over the Airstrip and Dibete Prospects demonstrate that multiple significant anomalies are present and very much put us on the front foot to continue with a successful 2021 program in Botswana.
Whilst Anomaly 1 at Airstrip demonstrates high chargeability zones extending along strike towards the Maibele North Ni-Cu-PGE orebody, Anomaly 2 is an entirely new exploration target for Si6 Metals representing strong potential to contain both Airstrip-style high grade Cu-Ag mineralisation as well as Maibele North-style Ni-Cu-PGE mineralisation. Both anomalies show much prospectivity and we look forward to providing continual updates as we further progress our 2021 exploration program in Botswana.”