Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has continued the strong run of success into 2023 at the Callisto palladium-platinum-gold-rhodium-copper-nickel discovery within the 100%-owned Norseman project in Western Australia.
Palladium grades of up to 7.06 g/t have been returned over 1 metre within a 33-metre high-grade intersection in hole NRCD320.
Providing further polymetallic encouragement for the company heading into the new year, the highest individual grades of copper and gold over 1 metre have been returned with 1.82 g/t gold and 1.96% copper in NRCD301.
“Consistently high-grade results”
Galileo’s managing director Brad Underwood said, “Ongoing drilling at Callisto continues to deliver consistently high-grade results with the latest assays showing that palladium, nickel, and copper grades are steadily increasing over wide intervals of mineralisation.
"We are also seeing the highest individual copper and gold grades drilled to date which indicates we have yet to understand the full potential of this very large geological system.”
New assays
Strong new results include:
NRCD320 - 3 metres at 2.05 g/t 3E (1.71 g/t palladium, 0.24 g/t platinum, 0.10 g/t gold), 0.24% copper and 0.29% nickel from 271 metres including 18 metres at 3.05 g/t 3E (2.59 g/t palladium, 0.33 g/t platinum, 0.13 g/t gold), 0.37% copper and 0.39% nickel from 283 metres with 1-metre at 7.65 g/t 3E (7.06 g/t palladium, 0.37 g/t platinum, 0.22 g/t gold), 0.40% copper and & 0.44% nickel from 295 metres.
NRCD301 - 32 metres at 2.04 g/t 3E (1.61 g/t palladium, 0.29 g/t platinum, 0.13 g/t gold), 0.36% copper and 0.34% nickel from 156 metres including 13 metres at 2.42 g/t 3E (1.84 g/t palladium, 0.35 g/t platinum, 0.22 g/t gold), 0.55% copper and 0.43% nickel from 171 metres with 1-metre at 5.01 g/t 3E (2.62 g/t palladium, 0.57 g/t platinum, 1.82 g/t gold), 1.96% copper and 1.19% nickel from 175 metres.
Consistent mineralisation
Galileo says that additional assay results demonstrate consistent high-grade mineralisation:
NRCD324 - 39 metres at 1.80 g/t 3E (1.47 g/t palladium, 0.25 g/t platinum, 0.07 g/t gold), 0.32% copper & 0.30% nickel from 236 metres including 14 metres at 2.55 g/t 3E (2.08 g/t palladium, 0.36 g/t platinum, 0.11 g/t gold), 0.47% copper and 0.40% nickel from 246 metres.
NRCD319 - 29 metres at 1.51 g/t 3E (1.24 g/t palladium, 0.20 g/t platinum, 0.07 g/t gold), 0.23% copper and 0.27% nickel from 255 metres including 11 metres at 2.50 g/t 3E (2.08 g/t palladium, 0.31 g/t platinum, 0.11 g/t gold), 0.37% copper & 0.40% nickel from 269 metres.
Plan map of Callisto drilling with RC and diamond drill target zones. Red dashed lines show the interpreted mineralised zone at 0.5 g/t 3E cut-off projected to surface – open in both directions.
Diamond drilling to resume
"Geological interpretation suggests that the Callisto rock unit originated further to the east and that the ultimate source of mineralisation may yet be discovered at this location,” Underwood said.
"Diamond core drilling is planned to resume in mid-January and the first program of drilling will test this concept with step out drilling.”
The diamond rig will target high-grade palladium-nickel-copper zones to the east of current mineralisation.
Drilling at Callisto is now focused on determining the size and grade of the sulphide zone and understanding the relationship with the much larger host sill, while looking for a possible source of the discovery to the east.
Further assays are pending for more than 15 reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drill holes.
Metallurgical testing
Galileo also has test-work underway with metallurgical twin drill hole NRCD337 confirming high-grade shallow mineralisation. Flotation tests are focused on metal recoveries.
NRCD337 - 34 metres at 1.97 g/t 3E (1.60 g/t palladium, 0.28 g/t platinum, 0.09 g/t gold), 0.31% copper and 0.31% nickel from 142 metres including 17 metres at 2.36 g/t 3E (1.91 g/t palladium, 0.33 g/t platinum, 0.12 g/t gold), 0.38% copper and 0.35% nickel from 153 metres.
"In addition to the drilling at Callisto,” Underwood said, “the first program of metallurgical work is underway using drill core from NRCD337.
"This initial sighter work will focus on flotation testing to determine recoveries of the key metals – palladium, nickel, copper, platinum, rhodium and gold. Results from this work are expected within the first quarter of 2023.
"With a quickly evolving discovery at Callisto we anticipate that the first few months of drilling in 2023 will be critical in demonstrating the quality of mineralisation we have discovered.
"We look forward to updating the market with the results of our drilling and metallurgical work programs.”