Maximus Resources Ltd (ASX:MXR) has kicked off an aircore drilling campaign at the Jilbadji nickel-copper-cobalt prospect, which is close to the Forrestania and Lake Johnston nickel belts, in the Forrestania area of WA.
The 2,000-metre reconnaissance drill campaign kicked off at Jilbadji following the completion of a roughly 4,500-metre multi-target gold and nickel program at Spargoville.
The Jilbadji prospect sits between IGO’s Forrestania Nickel operations and Poseidon Nickel’s Lake Johnston operations and some 25 kilometres east of Covalent Lithium’s Mt Holland Project.
Sampling points to deposits
Wide-spaced soil sampling conducted across magnetic and gravity features has pointed to anomalous geochemistry and the potential for mafic-ultramafic basement – favourable for nickel and gold deposits.
The Spargoville multi-target gold and nickel drill samples have been provided to the lab, with several targets placed on priority assaying following encouraging field observations.
Maximus managing director Tim Wither said: “The commencement of the Jilbadji initial reconnaissance drill program provides a low-cost and highly prospective entry point for additional nickel prospects for the company.
“The Jilbadji project is exceptionally well located and we are confident that, if we are successful in defining areas of significant mineralisation, we will be in a great position to advance these projects rapidly and effectively together with our continuing strategy at Spargoville.
“The aim of the Jilbadji drill program is to determine the geology below the shallow transported cover and provide an understanding of the magnetic and gravity features.
“The commencement of drilling at Jilbadji follows the completion of 188 holes for 4,553 metres across several gold and nickel targets at Spargoville.
“Additional infill drilling was completed on several targeted areas due to encouraging field observations and a large number of selected completed holes have been submitted as priority for assaying and we look forward to updating shareholders once the results have been received.”
Jilbadji prospect
The Jilbadji prospect was picked out based on the presence of unique circular magnetic features that coincide with gravity highs indicating the presence of mafic-ultramafic intrusions or assimilated greenstones, prospective for nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE and gold.
It is within the eastern margins of the Yilgarn Craton, proximal to the Forrestania and Lake Johnston nickel belts.
The company has been awarded a West Australian Government Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) co-funding drilling grant – up to $90,000 – for the fast track of reconnaissance drilling in the Jilbadji prospect area.
The drill program is expected to wrap up in under one week, with assay results expected in late April.