Terra Metals (ASX:TM1) has reported drilling results extending platinum group metal (PGM) mineralisation over 1,100m of strike at the Southwest discovery within its Dante Project in Western Australia.
Diamond-tail holes SWRD055 and SWRD057, together with SWDD018, have confirmed broad, continuous mineralised packages hosting multiple ‘high-grade’ reefs.
SWRD057 extended mineralisation approximately 360m along strike from SWRD052, returning 392m of combined PGM-copper-nickel mineralisation, including 52m @ 0.96 grams per tonne platinum-palladium-gold (3E) and 0.11% copper (Cu) from 51m, with a ‘higher-grade’ zone of 32m @ 1.36g/t 3E, 0.14% Cu, and 0.10% nickel (Ni) from 58m.
At depth, SWRD057 returned 177m @ 0.88g/t 3E and 0.16% Ni from 151m, containing multiple ‘high-grade’ reefs including 15m @ 2.37g/t 3E, 0.26% Ni, and 0.18% Cu from 165m.
SWRD055 defined approximately 329m of combined mineralisation, including 232m @ 0.84g/t 3E and 0.15% Ni from 174m, with ‘higher-grade’ intervals including 15m @ 1.9g/t 3E, 0.23% Ni, and 0.16% Cu from 180m, and 6.1m @ 1.56g/t 3E and 0.15% Ni from 279m.
SWDD018 supported northern continuity, returning 168m of combined mineralisation across four intervals from 205.4m.
General Manager for Exploration and Operations Barry Jones says the results demonstrate that the discovery continues to grow with each round of assays.
“PGE deposits of this style and tenor remain uncommon in Australia, which underscores the strategic significance of the Southwest discovery, both for the company and within the broader Australian PGE landscape,” Jones notes.
“The consistency of mineralisation being returned across the corridor continues to support the company’s geological model of a laterally extensive, robust PGM system.”
CEO Thomas Line says the diamond-tail results provide further evidence of the scale and continuity of the system.
“The confirmation of broad mineralisation and high-grade reefs in SWRD055 and SWRD057, together with mineralisation continuing to the north in SWDD018, demonstrates that the Southwest Main Sulfide Corridor remains a substantial and growing exploration target,” Line adds.
Five rigs target maiden resource as system expands
The latest results add further confidence to Terra Metals’ geological interpretation as it progresses its exploration and resource definition drilling program. Five rigs now operate at Dante to test the scale, continuity, and grade distribution of the mineralised system.
More than 56,000m of drilling has been completed, with approximately 32,000m of assays pending.
Terra Metals aims to deliver a maiden mineral resource estimate at Southwest in late 2026. Drilling is now also underway in newly cleared areas following completion of heritage surveys.
Southwest represents a distinct style of magmatic sulphide mineralisation within the West Musgrave region. Unlike the existing 148-million-tonne Dante Reefs resource, it is not confined to a single reef, instead spanning multiple ultramafic units over far greater thicknesses.
Drilling has defined mineralisation over more than 1,100m of strike, approximately 700m in width, up to 448m of continuous downhole thickness, and at least 750m down-dip.
Terra Metals is an Australian explorer focused on advancing its wholly owned Dante Project in Western Australia’s West Musgrave region, alongside its portfolio of critical minerals assets across the state.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Terra Metals
