Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG) has confirmed the belt-scale potential of the Mulga Tank Project’s mineral system after completing a five-hole reverse circulation drilling program.
Drilling confirmed the interpreted geology, with olivine cumulate/dunite and komatiite lithologies encountered in four holes, while visible sulphide mineralisation was also seen, including ‘numerous’ intersections of remobilised semi-massive sulphide observed in drillhole MTRC062.
Western Mines, which has a market capitalisation of $18.73 million, says this highlights the prospectivity of the channels to host ‘high-grade’ Kambalda-style massive sulphide mineralisation.
Kambalda-type ore deposits are considered distinctive in that the deposition of an immiscible iron-nickel-copper sulphide melt occurs within a laval flow channel upon the paleosurface.
Managing Director Caedmon Marriott says the main goal of this drilling program was to confirm the interpreted geology of the belt.
“The holes were successful in that, with all of them showing intersections of komatiite, dunite, and high magnesium oxide ultramafic lithologies,” Marriott says.
“Holes MTRC062 and MTRC063 drilled a magnetic high feature approximately 5km northwest of the main body of the complex and returned 200-300m intervals of dunite, similar to the main complex.
“Incredibly, many of the holes also contained visible sulphide mineralisation, with MTRC062 and MTRC063 again being the standout with 150m of disseminated sulphide mineralisation in MTRC063 and hole MTRC062 even returning intersections of remobilised semi-massive sulphide.”
Marriott notes that these are “remarkable” results in the lithological test holes and shows the belt-scale potential of the mineral system at Mulga Tank.
“Of further interest was the observation of several factors that are often considered prospective for gold mineralisation,” he says.
“These included pyrite-rich quartz veining along mafic/greenstone-granodiorite contacts as well as disseminated pyrite in altered granodiorite and mafic lithologies.”
These holes are the first drilled, as part of the belt-wide drilling program, to begin testing the interpreted komatiite channel system emanating from the main part of the Mulga Tank Ultramafic Complex.
Drilling aimed to provide the company with a greater understanding of the wider Mingiwal Green Belt that has seen limited effective drill testing beneath 60m of sand cover.
Exploration results from various drilling programs at Mulga Tank have shown significant nickel sulphide mineralisation and an extensive nickel sulphide mineral system within the ultramafic complex.
Each phase of drilling has continued to build the company’s understanding of the Mulga Tank Complex and the greenstone belt.
Results from the third phase program will feed into ongoing exploration targeting work for nickel sulphide and gold mineralisation. The assays are expected to be received from the laboratory shortly.
Western Mines Group is a mineral explorer focused primarily on discovering gold and nickel across a portfolio of ‘highly prospective’ projects located on major mineral belts of Western Australia.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Western Mines
