NickelSearch Ltd (ASX:NIS) has started drill testing high-priority geochemical and geophysical targets at the Carlingup Nickel Sulphide Project near Ravensthorpe, Western Australia.
NIS is undertaking a 1,500-metre reverse circulation (RC) program, focused on three high-priority target areas at Javelin, Sexton and RAV8 South.
Drilling at Javelin will test the recently identified, very high conductance EM plate, indicating prospectivity for massive sulphides.
Planned holes at Sexton will aim to confirm and extend known mineralisation, based on the historic intercept of 2 metres at 1.2% nickel and 0.17% copper from 98 metres in RVD0015.
Meanwhile, RAV8 South is an untested anomaly identified by moving-loop and airborne electromagnetic surveys.
Down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys will be completed on select holes and the program is planned so that any visual encouragement can be followed up quickly.
Eager to drill
NickelSearch’s managing director Nicole Duncan said: “We are excited to start drilling to test the strong indicators of mineralisation at Javelin.
"The modelled DHEM plates and anomalous mineralisation seen in assays suggest we are close to a mineralised area. In addition to Javelin, we are thrilled to be able to test new prospects at Sexton and RAV8 South.
“We have been eager to drill at Sexton since first defining it as a high-priority target, so it’s great to be on the cusp of doing just that.
"At RAV8 South, it is logical to be exploring in proximity to the former RAV8 mine. It produced 16,100 tonnes of nickel at 3.45% nickel (including 9,600 tonnes of nickel at 5.83%), so we know the geology can hold exceptional high-grade nickel massive sulphides.”
About the drilling
The 1,500 metre RC drilling program will start by drilling directly into the very high conductive EM plate at Javelin, with an additional three holes testing extensions to mineralisation along strike.
Any incomplete drilling before Christmas will resume early in the new year.
There are four holes planned for the Sexton Prospect to test the coincident geophysical and geochemical anomaly as well as confirming historical hole RVD015 that intercepted 2 metres at 1.2% nickel and 0.17% copper from 98 metres.
Javelin and Sexton Collar locations.
Drilling at RAV8 South will test two overlapping EM plates to better understand how they line up with the lithological trend.
Historical exploration work in the area identified one plate using moving-loop electromagnetics and the airborne electromagnetics Xcite™ survey conducted by NIS earlier this year defined the other.
RAV8 South collar location and underlying geophysical plates.
The EM plates do not align exactly with the predicted plunge of the local geology and therefore are unlikely to be sulphidic sediments at a contact.
Selected holes will be set up for DHEM when a geophysical crew becomes available in early 2023.
Strike Drilling will provide an RC rig utilising their EnviroPod to test whether it can further reduce the footprint of RC drilling.
The EnviroPod is a completely self-contained drill sump for the outside return and the sample cyclone.
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