Thor Mining Plc (ASX:THR) announces that anomalous nickel assays results from reverse circulation (RC) drilling have been returned with an off-hole conductive anomaly identified from a subsequent down-hole electromagnetic geophysics survey at the Krona prospect.
The Krona prospect sits within the company’s 100% owned Ragged Range Project, located in the Eastern Pilbara, Western Australia.
Thor reports that the shallow conductor, identified from the recent high-powered Fixed Loop Electromagnetics (FLEM) ground geophysics survey beneath the nickel gossan at the Krona Prospect, was drill tested with one RC drill hole, returning 22RRRC045 – 66m @ 0.19% nickel from 81m.
The drillhole intersected the edge of the modelled FLEM conductor.
A down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) geophysics survey was completed and revealed an off-hole conductor consistent with sulphides and warrants drill testing to validate.
The nickel gossan is located at the basal contact of the Dalton Suite ultramafic unit (altered Archean Komatiite) in the classic location for nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation.
Thor reports that samples have been submitted for assay of platinum group elements (PGEs), and that it will design follow-up drillholes to target the DHEM conductor.
The company is also awaiting drill assays from the recent Sterling Prospect RC drilling program.
It will start the RC drilling program at the Kelly’s Prospect, following up on ‘high-grade’ gold in rock chips (up to 15.5g/t Au).
Addressing the results, Thor Mining Managing Director Nicole Galloway Warland commented: “I am encouraged that the down-hole geophysics survey at the Krona Prospect, Ragged Range has identified an off-hole electromagnetic conductor, and that the target is genuinely anomalous for nickel with assay values above background lithological values.
“This result warrants further drill testing to confirm this understanding”
This result warrants further drill testing to confirm this understanding.
We are currently designing a drilling program at the Kelly’s Prospect following up the high-grade gold in rock chips.”
One RC drill hole of 174m was drilled to test the shallow (100m) conductor identified by the high-powered Fixed Loop Electromagnetics (FLEM) ground geophysics survey completed in June 2022 at the Krona prospect.
Due to the steep slopes around the gossan, the closest achievable collar position was around 50m from the SE corner of the plate and 130m from the plate’s centre.
An intersection of 66m @ 0.19% nickel from 81m was returned in 22RRRC045. Whilst the hole intersected the modelled EM plate, it did not intersect massive or disseminated sulphides. It did however intersect a graphitic shale from 60-72m down hole, but this did not explain the source of the conductor as it was too shallow (50m above the modelled plate).
To resolve the source of the conductor, the hole was cased and a down-hole DHEM survey was completed by Vortex Geophysics. This used a small 100m x 150m loop, oriented to couple both with flat lying conductors, below the loop, and steeply dipping conductors in the vicinity of the graphitic zone at 70m down-hole.
The DHEM identified a clear off-hole conductor at around 85m down-hole, with a modelled response of -42-degree dip towards 312-degree azimuth and has a plunge of 14 degree to the NE but appears to flatten in places.
The plunge is not well constrained and could be traded off against a small shift in the modelled plate along strike.
Thor Mining is a diversified resource company quoted on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange, ASX in Australia and OTCQB Market in the US.
The company is advancing its diversified portfolio of precious, base, energy and strategic metal projects across the US and Australia. Its focus is on progressing its copper, gold, uranium, and vanadium projects, while seeking investment/JV opportunities to develop its tungsten/molybdenum assets.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Thor Mining PLC & iStock
