Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG) has begun planning additional holes to its phase two diamond drilling program, extending the footprint at the Mulga Tank Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements (Ni-Cu-PGE) Project, in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields.
Following the announcement of Western Mines’s recent capital raise, as well as its ‘encouraging’ exploration results, the company states 2 new diamond drillhole locations have been selected and pads have been cleared.
In addition, the company reports further drillholes are also being planned to extend this phase of drilling and systematically test the main body of the Mulga Tank Complex.
Commenting on the Mulga Tank Project, Western Mines Group Managing Director, Caedmon Marriott says: “We’re starting to plan additional holes to step out and target the extent of this zone, with the next hole MTP024 being significant in potentially extending the footprint of mineralisation right across the complex to phase one hole MTD020.
Further intersections of remobilised massive sulphide veinlets filling faults and fractures were seen in hole MTD025, with one example around 254m depth, clearly showing this phenomenon.
“The source of this material remains elusive and it has now been seen over a wide area of the western margin. Systematic drilling combined with DHEM is likely required to locate it”
The source of this material remains elusive and it has now been seen over a wide area of the western margin. Systematic drilling combined with DHEM is likely required to locate it.”
A 6-hole diamond drilling program is currently being conducted for about 4,000m to 5,000m. The program will test multiple follow-up targets, based on the results of Western Mines Group’s first diamond drilling program, as well as ongoing exploration targeting work.
The company reports it has moved the drill rig to the east and has begun drilling its planned hole MTP024, which will become hole MTD026 upon completion.
Drillhole MTP024 is located halfway between holes MTD023 and MTD020, which both show extensive intersections of disseminated sulphide mineralisation.
In addition, the planned hole will seek to test the footprint of this mineralisation across the majority of the ultramafic complex.
The company’s plans to extend the footprint of mineralisation have come forth after drillhole MTD025 intersected a 446m thick package of high magnesium oxide (Mgo) adcumulate dunite ultramafic.
Western Mines reports 2 shallow intervals of disseminated magmatic sulphides of traces up to 1%, were seen in the top 200m of the hole, similar to nearby holes MTD012, MTD022, and MTD023. Additionally, hole MTD012 reported zones of visible disseminated magmatic sulphides with pXRF readings greater than 0.4% nickel (Ni).
The pXRF also confirmed 3 intersections of ‘high-tenor’ remobilised ‘massive’ nickel sulphide veinlets down the hole.
Western Mines states this demonstrates nickel sulphides infilling faults and fractures having likely been remobilised from a nearby ‘massive’ sulphide source.
In addition, the company states none of these remobilised intersections appear to explain the shoot-like DHEM anomaly and a follow-up DHEM survey of this hole is planned.
Western Mines Group is an ASX-listed mineral exploration company, focused on the exploration and discovery of ‘high-value’ gold and nickel sulphide deposits.
The company has a diverse portfolio of ‘highly’ prospective projects located on major mineral belts of Western Australia including the Mulga Tank, Jasper Hill, Melita, Rock of Ages, Pavarotti, Youanmi, Broken Hill Bore, and Pinyalling projects.
Images: Western Mines Group Ltd
