Anson Resources Ltd (ASX:ASN) has delineated 13 new nickel-copper-platinum group elements (PGE) exploration targets from an aeromagnetic drone survey over its Hooley Well Project in the Mid-West region of Western Australia.
The high-resolution survey defined four priority-1 targets primarily focused on major magnetic anomalies at the project, which is in the north-western area of the highly prospective Yilgarn Craton
Moving forward, these priority targets will be the focus of the company’s next phase of exploration at Hooley Well, which is planned to kick off in the near future.
Magnetic survey
Interpretation of survey data at 1:20,000 was carried out by Southern Geoscience Consultants over the area and interrogated at a closer scale of approximately 1:10,000.
This work resulted in the selection and prioritisation - 1 (high) to 3 (low) - of the multiple nickel-copper-PGE targets over the Hooley Well Project area.
Previous RAB drilling has highlighted a large nickel laterite anomaly throughout the centre of the project area.
Plan showing the nickel-copper-PGE anomalies overlaying the geological and structural interpretation.
Litho-structural interpretation
The suite of survey imagery was used to produce a litho-structural interpretation of the bedrock geology.
This interpretation identified significant and complex faulting which was constrained by historical geological mapping and sampling.
The litho-structural interpretation formed the basis of target generation, with a total of 13 nickel-copper-PGE targets identified to provide a focus for future exploration programs.
These targets are based on interpreted lithologies, structures, or sites of alteration that may be more favourable to host mineralisation.
Structural interpretation over RTP Pseudo RTP2VD greyscale image
Hooley Well geology
The Hooley Well Project, which is in the Narryer Terrane in the north-western area of the Yilgarn Craton, is a mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex confirmed by historical exploration drilling.
This geology is interpreted as comparable to Chalice’s high-grade Julimar nickel-copper-PGE discovery and the Nova-Bollinger Nickel-Copper Project in the Fraser Range, both of which are on the margins of the Yilgarn Craton.
The project area includes rock units prospective for intrusion-hosted nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation and is considered highly prospective due to its location and the encouraging results achieved by previous explorers.