Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG) has reported ‘high-grade’ nickel results up to 2.26% from its phase five drilling program at the Mulga Tank Project in Western Australia.
The company received assay results for six reverse circulation (RC) holes, all of which showed broad zones of nickel sulphide mineralisation alongside elevated copper and platinum group elements (PGE).
MTRC073 returned 3m @ 1.18% nickel (Ni), 389 parts per million (ppm) cobalt (Co), and 0.11% copper (Cu) from 189m, including 1m at 2.25% Ni, 708ppm Co, and 0.21% Cu from 190m.
MTRC078 intersected 4m at 0.85% Ni, 374ppm Co, and 0.21% Cu from 293m, including 1m @ 2.26% Ni, 0.10% Co, and 0.35% Cu from 295m.
All six holes showed cumulative intersections exceeding 120m of nickel sulphide mineralisation. MTRC070 returned a cumulative 120m @ 0.28% Ni, while MTRC072 delivered a cumulative 198m @ 0.26% Ni. MTRC073 produced a cumulative 173m @ 0.31% Ni, MTRC074 intersected a cumulative 218m @ 0.26% Ni, and MTRC075 returned a cumulative 215m @ 0.28% Ni.
“All the holes showed broad intersections of mineralisation, and these results will likely extend the current resource estimate when processed as part of the next resource upgrade,” Managing Director Caedmon Marriott says.
“MTRC078 is one of the first holes of the phase five program and drilled as a follow-up hole around MTRC046. Along with MTRC073, the hole returned some robust results and a higher grade intersection associated with a richer sulphide zone.”
Tracing the high-grade nickel zones
‘Higher-grade’ intervals can be traced over several hundred metres across the central area. Drilling has identified more than 30 shallow intersections with grades greater than 1% Ni across approximately 2km2 in the core of the main complex.
Five of the six holes formed part of the phase four infill program designed to extend mineralisation to the south. MTRC078 represents the first phase five follow-up hole around MTRC046.
Geochemical analysis shows the host rock comprises high-temperature adcumulate dunite with magnesium oxide levels exceeding 45% and aluminium oxide generally between 0.1% and 0.5%.
The drill rig recently completed the final RC hole and converted to diamond drilling to complete two shallow holes near MTRC046. These holes have been pre-collared to approximately 100m and will target similar semi-massive sulphide mineralisation.
Western Mines Group plans to complete an environmental impact statement co-funded seismic survey in August to map the three-dimensional architecture of the Mulga Tank complex.
The Mulga Tank Nickel-Cobalt-Copper-PGE Project hosts a mineral resource of 1,968 million tonnes at 0.27% Ni, containing over 5.3Mt of contained Ni.
Western Mines Group is a diversified explorer advancing battery metals and gold projects across Western Australia, anchored by the Mulga Tank Project and the Jasper Hill Gold Project.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Western Mines Group
