Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has uncovered a new style of magmatic nickel-copper-cobalt zone at the Callisto discovery within its Norseman Project in Western Australia, with rare high cobalt grades of up to 0.18%.
Assays from the first massive sulphides intersected at the palladium-platinum-gold-rhodium-copper-nickel discovery revealed the first occurrence of significant cobalt at Callisto, and the first massive sulphide intersection to date, indicating a separate magmatic source from that of the palladium-rich lower zones.
The massive sulphide drill intersection in hole NRCD293 returned 2.2 metres at 0.50% nickel, 1.92% copper, 0.12% cobalt, 0.10 g/t palladium from 189.8 metres, including 1.2 metres at 0.77% nickel, 2.48% copper, 0.18% cobalt, 0.14 g/t palladium from 190.6 metres.
Detail of massive sulphide mineralisation at 190.6 metres downhole in NRCD293 in top photo with larger interval in lower photo.
Rare find
Galileo managing director Brad Underwood said: “The first massive sulphide intersection at Callisto has returned significant nickel-copper-cobalt assays highlighting a new zone of mineralisation above and separate to the lower palladium-rich zones.
“This style of metal enrichment demonstrates the potential in the area and the abundance of new results is an extremely positive sign for the prospectivity at both the Callisto discovery and the area immediately to the north where we are currently drilling.
“Magmatic sulphide mineralisation containing nickel-copper-cobalt is a rare find and we will undertake down hole EM surveying to look for the source of the intercept.
"Callisto continues to deliver results and with two rigs on site, we expect to quickly develop our understanding of the area and the outstanding opportunities for new discoveries in the region.”
Breaking it down
Assays from the diamond core drill tail of NRCD293 contained a zone of massive sulphide from 189.8 metres down hole that is separate and distinct from the lower palladium-rich zone, which intersected 2 metres at 1.67 g/t 3E, 0.09% copper, 0.26% nickel at 240 metres down hole.
The presence of cobalt in the massive sulphide unit is new for Callisto, where cobalt grades in the palladium-rich sulphide zone are most often around 0.01%.
The massive sulphide texture, the high grades of cobalt recorded and the physical separation between the two zones of metal enrichment, all point towards the discovery of a new style of mineralisation at Callisto.
Galileo is planning down hole electromagnetic (EM) surveying to look for the potential source of the massive sulphide, to be followed by more drilling.
Massive sulphide unit intersected in NRCD293 at 189.8 metres down hole with the disseminated palladium-rich zone intersected at 240 metres down hole. Current interpretation of the palladium-rich zone is that it plunges off section to the east-southeast.
About the company
Galileo’s tenements near Norseman are highly prospective for palladium-copper-nickel sulphide deposits as shown by the Callisto discovery.
The explorer also has joint ventures with the Creasy Group over tenements in the Fraser Range, which are prospective for nickel-copper sulphide deposits similar to the operating Nova mine.
Its Norseman Project contains a near-surface laterite deposit, with more than 26,000 tonnes of contained cobalt and 122,000 tonnes of contained nickel, in JORC-compliant resources.