Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL, OTC:GLMGF) continues to rack up exploration success at the Callisto palladium-nickel discovery of its 100%-owned Norseman Project with exploration drilling revealing a new zone of platinum group element (PGE) enrichment.
The reverse circulation (RC) drilling 600 metres north of Callisto intersected a 184-metre PGE anomalous zone starting from surface grading 0.21 g/t 3E (0.12 g/t palladium, 0.08 g/t platinum and 0.08 g/t gold).
Within this was a higher-grade interval of 4 metres from 156 metres at 2.32 g/t 3E (1.30 g/t palladium, 0.94 g/t platinum and 0.08 g/t gold).
“A significant result”
Galileo’s managing director Brad Underwood said: “Drilling an anomalous intersection over such a wide zone is a significant result from exploration drilling at our Norseman project.
"In particular, the assays show we have found a new type of rock containing palladium and platinum that is separate and unique from the rock which hosts the Callisto discovery 600 metres to the south.
"These results confirm the PGE enrichment at Callisto is not restricted to one rock unit or one mineralisation style and illustrates the opportunity for further discoveries within the five kilometres of ground along strike to the north."
Norseman project location map with a selection of regional mines and infrastructure.
PGE-rich unit identified
Two holes, NRC435 and NRC436, were drilled as pre-collars for diamond tails with the intention of intersecting the lower zones of the ultramafic sill complex where nickel-palladium sulphide mineralisation within a host pyroxenite was encountered at the Callisto discovery 600 metres south.
A PGE-enriched high-magnesium unit has been identified while drilling the upper portion of the layered intrusion.
This unit can also be differentiated from surrounding layers through chromium, titanium and vanadium geochemistry. Copper levels are low and nickel levels are in line with background levels for ultramafic rocks.
The new ultramafic unit is interpreted to have potential for 'reef-style' PGE mineralisation where high grades of PGEs are found within thin layers of ultramafic sill complexes.
Examples of PGE reef-style mineralisation include the Stillwater Complex in the US and the Bushveld Complex in South Africa.
Map of key prospect locations at Norseman Project - Callisto, Jimberlana and Mission Sill - adjacent to the main highway and 8 kilometres from the town of Norseman.
Diamond tails on NRC435 and NRC436 are planned for drilling in July with further exploration work to the north of Callisto planned for later in the year, following the completion of the first round of RC drilling at Jimberlana and Mission Sill prospects.
New RC program
The Jimberlana and Mission Sill exploration drilling is still on track for commencement later this month with an initial 4,000-metre program that is expected to take around one month to complete.
Mission Sill is a mafic-ultramafic intrusion with similar geology to the host rock at Callisto. It is around 6 kilometres southeast of Callisto and has multiple anomalous drilling results over a 10-kilometre strike length.
The Jimberlana Dyke is an extensive east-west trending mafic-ultramafic dyke with anomalous drill results on both the northern and southern margins.
Of particular note is an intersection on the northern margin at the bottom of an aircore drill hole where geochemically anomalous sulphides were intersected. Strong EM conductors proximal to the anomalous intercept make this prospect a compelling target.
“Very similar geology”
"In addition to the ongoing work at Callisto, RC drilling is scheduled to begin at the end of June at the Mission Sill and Jimberlana prospects located six kilometres southeast of Callisto within very similar ultramafic geology,” Underwood said.
"The Jimberlana and Mission Sill targets both contain numerous early-stage aircore results with anomalous nickel, palladium, platinum and copper.
"The company aims to repeat the Callisto success with new discoveries from our extensive 255 square kilometres Norseman Project and, with multiple high-quality targets for testing, we are excited to be working within a newly discovered nickel-palladium district.”