Terra Metals (ASX:TM1) confirms its Southwest discovery at the Dante Project in Western Australia has reached near-surface levels, with reverse circulation (RC) drilling intersecting 157m of mineralisation from 5m downhole.
Drilling to date has expanded the Southwest Main Sulphide Corridor to over 950m of strike, approximately 700m in width, and at least 750m down dip. The company says this confirms the scale of the emerging platinum group metal-copper-nickel sulphide system, which remains open in all directions.
The discovery sits entirely outside the existing 148 million tonne Dante mineral resource, representing a major growth opportunity within the Jameson Layered Intrusion.
Key RC drilling intercepts include:
- 157m @ 0.73 grams per tonne (g/t) platinum-group elements (PGE3) and 0.16% nickel (Ni) from 5m, including 50m @ 1.27g/t PGE3 from 74m, and 3m @ 5.05g/t PGE3, 0.62% Ni, and 0.27% copper (Cu) from 110m
- 150m @ 0.86g/t PGE3, 0.15% Ni, and 0.10% Cu from 54m, including 33m @ 1.25g/t PGE3, 0.2% Ni and 0.13% Cu from 64m and 47m @ 1.05g/t PGE3, 0.16% Ni, and 0.12% Cu from 141m
- 80m @ 1.08g/t PGE3, 0.16% Ni, and 0.11% Cu from 180m, including 47m @ 1.35g/t PGE3, 0.17% Ni, and 0.13% Cu from 182m and 7m @ 2.04g/t PGE3, 0.23% Cu, and 0.20% Ni from 213m; and a second mineralised interval of 40m @ 0.90g/t PGE3 and 0.16% Ni from 110m
CEO Thomas Line says the results confirm a large mafic-ultramafic reef within the Southwest Main Zone that is continuous along strike and down dip, while also demonstrating exceptional thickness compared with most globally recognised platinum group metal (PGM) reef systems.
“PGM reefs are commonly associated with narrow mineralised horizons, typically ranging from approximately 10 centimetres to 2 metres thick,” Line says.
“The identification of higher-grade internal reef horizons, which compare favourably in grade and thickness with globally significant PGM reefs such as the Merensky Reef and UG2, reinforces the significant potential of Southwest.”
Terra Metals says the results also reinforce the potential for a low strip starter pit at Southwest, with geophysics indicating the mineralisation extends over a ‘significant’ strike length from surface.
Five drill rigs remain active at Southwest, with diamond drilling targeting extensions to the mineralised ultramafic along the main Southwest Sulphide Zone.
The company notes assays are pending from deep diamond tails up to 918m.
Meanwhile, ground and downhole electromagnetic surveys continue to generate new high-priority targets, while heritage surveys are planned to expand drill access across the broader project area.
Terra Metals aims to report a maiden mineral resource estimate for Southwest in late 2026, followed by metallurgical test work and flowsheet development ahead of a Prefeasibility Study.
Located in the West Musgrave region within the Jameson Layered Intrusion, the Dante Project is a mafic-ultramafic intrusive system extending approximately 80km in length and 30km in width under Terra Metals’ wholly owned tenure.
Terra Metals is a critical minerals explorer and developer focused on its flagship Dante Project in Western Australia.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Terra Metals
