Assay results from recent RC drilling by Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL, OTC:GLMGF) at its Norseman project in Western Australia continue to show prospective zones of palladium-platinum close to the existing Callisto resource.
Galileo undertook around 2,100 metres of RC drilling in August/September, targeting a series of geophysical and geochemical anomalies.
The drilling intersected disseminated sulphide minerals coincident with EM conductors, IP geophysical chargeable zones and at geochemical targets. Several drill intersections in ultramafic and mafic rocks — the potential host units for economic mineralisation — contained anomalous palladium and platinum results.
Drill results include wide zones of anomalous platinum group elements (PGE), including 8-metres at 0.21 g/t 3E (palladium + platinum + gold) from 128 metres (in NRC505); 20 metres at 0.18 g/t 3E from 180 metres (in NRC502); and 36-metres at 0.14 g/t 3E from 128 metres (in NRC501).
These results demonstrate two target models for the Norseman Project — Callisto-style sulphide mineralisation at the base of intrusive sills, and mineralisation at the interface between mafic and ultramafic rock units.
Widely distributed PGE mineralisation
Galileo managing director Brad Underwood said; “Results from our RC drill campaign at Norseman continue to show prospective palladium and platinum assays.
“These results are highly encouraging as they display how widely distributed the mineralisation is within our Norseman project area. Our ground has never been systematically explored for palladium-platinum mineralisation and we are the first to realise the potential of this region.
“That understanding has received a significant boost with the results from our mapping campaign and from computer processing of geochemical data at our Mission Sill prospect.
“This prospect is approximately six kilometres from Callisto with the same host rock sequence of ultramafic and mafic units.
Exploration continues at Mission Sill
Mapping and geochemical analysis of the project’s Mission Sill prospect, which is parallel to Callisto, highlights a more than 10-kilometre strike of untested target zone at the base of the intrusive sill.
“Geological mapping and geochemical analyses have now recognised the basal contact target at the Mission Sill as a similar stratigraphic position to that which hosts the Callisto palladium-nickel deposit,” said Underwood.
“This zone is untested over ten kilometres of strike and will be targeted in the upcoming November drill campaign.
“Galileo is an active exploration company undertaking multiple drill campaigns each year with the aim of discovering new resources from our extensive tenement package and we look forward to the next drill program in this newly discovered mineral province.”
The company plans to commence its next drill campaign — a 5,000 metre aircore program — in November.
This program has been designed to drill test the basal unit of the Mission Sill at multiple positions along the 10-kilometre strike length. GAL will be looking for palladium, platinum and nickel enrichment which may be linked to economic sulphide mineralisation.
More on the RC drill results
Drillhole NRC502
NRC502 was drilled as a follow up to geochemical anomalies identified in NRC463 and NRC496 (above).
This target is at a separate geological position to that of the Callisto deposit, with anomalous palladium and platinum at this position occurring at the contact between ultramafic and mafic units within the host rock sill. This is a different geological target to Callisto style mineralisation which occurs at the base of the ultramafic sill.
These results indicate the potential for additional styles of palladium-platinum mineralisation beyond that known to occur at the Callisto deposit and are an excellent sign for future exploration within the Norseman area.
Chargeability IP model with anomalous drill results
Drillhole NRC501
NRC501 was drilled 450 metres north along strike from NRC502 and confirmed the presence of anomalous palladium/platinum at the ultramafic/gabbro interface.
Drillhole NRC505
Drill hole NRC505 was directed at a geophysical Induced Polarisation (IP) chargeable zone and as a follow up to NRC498 which intersected anomalous palladium and platinum.
It intersected weakly disseminated sulphides within an interpreted structure with anomalous palladium and platinum over 8-metres. These results support the use of IP surveying to define prospective sulphide zones within the Norseman project area.
Chargeability IP model with anomalous drill results in drill hole NRC505 and previous drill hole NRC498.