Widgie Nickel (ASX:WIN) is planning to update the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of its Munda nickel deposit within the Mt Edwards Project in Western Australia.
The company reports drill data from the area will be compiled to complete the MRE update in the second half of 2023 to assist with future resource and further exploration drilling.
Munda’s current mineral resource stands at 320,000 tonnes @ 2.2% Ni for 7,040 tonnes of contained nickel.
This news comes after the company reported assays from its recently completed drilling campaign at Munda.
Some of the ‘high-grade’ nickel mineralisation intercepts include hole MEDD026 with 12.46m @ 2.05% Ni from 329.6m, including 6.06m @ 3.20% Ni from 336m; hole MERC163 with 1m @ 4.35% Ni from 59m; and hole MERC167 with 6.12m @ 4.39% Ni from 246.25m, including 2.55m @ 7.08% Ni from 249.45m.
Commenting on the drill results, Widgie Nickel Managing Director Steve Norregaard says: “As one of the initial resources identified for upgrading in confidence, I am encouraged by these results.
“Tightening up our understanding of the mineralisation removes uncertainty and in the case of these results has provided a new geological interpretation”
Tightening up our understanding of the mineralisation removes uncertainty and in the case of these results has provided a new geological interpretation, which alludes to the opportunity for resource growth.”
The company reports the Munda infill drilling will help increase its confidence in the future resource re-estimate, enhancing the proportion of indicated resources at the deposit for future economic studies.
Munda remains open at depth, and exploration ‘success’ in hole MERC259 200m to the east of the M4 mineralised shoot unlocks a ‘significant’ search space for further Munda-style mineralisation shoots to be uncovered.
Additionally, the company notes further work is required to fully understand the context of hole MERC259 mineralisation and its extents.
Widgie Nickel sees the Munda deposit as a complementary satellite operation to the proposed Widgie South and Armstrong mining centres, which are both currently the subject of feasibility studies.
Munda has ‘high-tenor’ mineralisation and ‘low’ contaminant levels, which have the potential to contribute to a ‘larger-scale’, and/or longer life operation.
The Munda deposit is 1 of the 12 nickel deposits within the company’s flagship Mt Edwards Project, which is located 75km south of the major regional centre of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
Widgie Nickel is an ASX-listed exploration company with a ‘unique’ consolidation of a vast 240km-square land package of ‘highly prospective’ nickel and new-economy metal prospects within the Eastern Goldfields nickel sulphide belt.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Widgie Nickel Ltd
