Western Yilgarn (ASX:WYX) has completed a round of stream sediment sampling in partnership with traditional Pilbara landowners across its Silvania South Platinum Group Elements (PGE) project in Western Australia.
The company collected 31 samples for assay alongside representatives from the Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation (KNAC). Western Yilgarn says all up, the sampling work covered 90% of the Sylvania permit, which lies roughly 5km southwest of Capricorn Metals’ (ASX:CMM) Karlawinda Gold Mine.
While WA’s Pilbara region is known globally for its thriving iron ore mining industry, Western Yilgarn says the area remains ‘underexplored’ and ‘highly prospective’ for all other elements.
As such, Western Yilgarn geologist Beau Nicholls and General Manager Gavin Rutherford teamed up with the KNAC’s Stanley Watson and Gavin Jackson to spend 3 days completing first-pass systematic sediment stream sampling work across the Sylvania South project area.
Rutherford said the program not only helped foster a strong relationship with KNAC but also helped garner a deeper understanding of how best to explore the traditional owners’ land.
“The field operations served as a symbiotic way to combine respect for and observance to tradition and minimal intrusion whilst satisfying shareholder requirements.
This is the foundation of how we can move forward with smiles on all faces.”
“This is the foundation of how we can move forward with smiles on all faces”
Western Yilgarn Chairman Peter Lewis shares similar sentiments, saying the Sylvania work is a ‘significant step’ in the development of the company’s project portfolio.
“I am delighted to see our KNAC collaboration extend into the field.
The prospectivity of both Sylvania Project leases can be tested with the guidance of KNAC’s local heritage knowledge.
The completion of this program has been an important development in building our relationship with KNAC. Western Yilgarn looks forward to expanding this partnership as we plan our upcoming exploration activities at Sylvania.”
The Sylvania project covers 370km-square across 2 non-contiguous exploration leases, Silvania North and Silvania South.
Alongside Sylvania, Western Yilgarn owns the Mount Magnet, Bulga, Melbourne, and Julimar West projects. All projects are prospective for PGEs and each lies in WA, primarily in the Eastern Goldfields and Pilbara regions.
Western Yilgarn had $2.1 million cash at hand as of 30 June, according to its latest quarterly report.
Write to Joshua Smith at Mining.com.au
Images: Western Yilgarn
