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Western Mines strikes fresh Mulga Tank nickel

Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG) has reported new assays from hole MTD028 that confirm evidence of an ‘extensive’ mineral system at its Mulga Tank Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements (Ni-Cu-PGE) Project. 

The $19.70 million market capitalisation company says the assays validate its geological logging work and confirm ‘extensive’ zones of mineralisation with ‘significant’ evidence for live magmatic sulphide chemical processes.

Further, the results from hole MTD028 demonstrate zones of ‘highly’ anomalous copper and PGEs, combined with elevated sulphur (S) and a S:Ni ratio greater than 0.5.

Western Mines says these zones correlate ‘well’ with the visible sulphides observed in geological logging and provide ‘strong’ evidence for nickel in sulphide. 

The assays from hole MTD028 show cumulative disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation of 466m @ 0.35% Ni, 139 parts per million (ppm) cobalt (Co), 63ppm Cu, and 43 parts per billion (ppb) platinum and palladium (Pt+Pd) with a S:Ni ratio of 1.0.

Individual ‘significant’ mineralised intersections down the hole include 16m @ 0.31% Ni, 139ppm Co, 16ppm Cu, 19ppb Pt+Pd from 134m. 

Western Mines Group Managing Director Caedmon Marriott says the company is continuing to see ‘better’ results from the project, and today’s results show the ‘broadest and highest-grade assays’ of disseminated sulphide mineralisation yet at Mulga Tank. 

“Overall, it is positive for the ongoing reverse circulation (RC) drilling program testing the continuity of this zone across the main body of the complex.

High-tenor remobilised massive sulphide veinlets were seen throughout this zone, as well as in surrounding holes MTD012, MTD013, MTD022 and MTD023.

This further confirms the basal contract of the intrusion to be highly prospective for massive sulphides, and our belief this is likely a hybrid Type 1/2 mineral system more akin to Perseverance — with both disseminated and massive components.”

“Overall, it is positive for the ongoing reverse circulation (RC) drilling program testing the continuity of this zone across the main body of the complex”

The company notes a second multipurpose RC drill rig began a systematic shallow drill program across the centre of the main body of the complex in September. This program aims to build on the results returned to date. 

Western Mines Group is scheduled to exhibit at the upcoming International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) held in Sydney from 31 October to 2 November 2023. Mining.com.au is an official media partner of IMARC, which will showcase 470-plus mining leaders and resource experts throughout 7 concurrent conferences.

Western Mines’ flagship Mulga Tank project covers an area of 425km-square and lies 190km east-northeast of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. 

The company is a diversified mineral explorer focused on the discovery of ‘high-value’ gold and nickel sulphide deposits across a portfolio of ‘highly prospective’ projects in Western Australia. 

As of 30 September 2023, the company had $1.87 million cash at hand, according to its latest quarterly report.

Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au 

Images: Western Mines Group
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Written By Aaliyah Rogan
Originally from New Zealand, Aaliyah brings several years of experience covering the resources sector, with a focus on companies, commodities and global mining markets. Her reporting has spanned European markets and the evolving global mining landscape, with a focus on the stories and market forces driving change across the sector.