NickelX Ltd (ASX:NKL) has completed detailed infill auger drilling at the Dalwallinu Project in the West Yilgarn region of WA which it hopes will result in the identification of Julimar-style nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation.
The project covers 86 square kilometres of the underexplored Barra Barra Greenstone Belt in the emerging West Yilgarn, which hosts several recent nickel-copper-PGE discoveries including the world-class Julimar discovery about 150 kilometres to the southwest.
Auger samples
Nickel X has completed detailed auger drilling soil sampling across four high-priority nickel-copper-platinum group elements (PGE) targets at Dalwallinu, which is about 200 kilometres northeast of Perth, on accessible private farmland with sealed road frontage and where Native Title has been extinguished.
This was undertaken on a 50 x 50-metre spacing to extend the targets which were recently refined following a close-spaced drone magnetic survey.
Points to targets
Managing director Matt Gauci said: “The detailed close-spaced infill auger drilling soil sampling program combined with historical and current soil samples, points to some very well-defined exploration targets, seeking Julimar-style nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation.
“Magnetic data also indicates the Barra Barra Greenstone Belt intrusive – which is being targeted for nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation – represents a folded tabular body, either originally a dyke or a sill.
“The exploration team completed the program safely and efficiently and the team looks forward to the receipt of assays to enhance the prospectivity of the four high-priority targets at Dalwallinu, where we are seeking Julimar-style nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation.”
Samples have been submitted to the laboratory for assaying with results anticipated to be returned by the end of the March quarter, pending how busy the laboratory is.
Dalwallinu Nickel Project location.
Four areas highlighted
Overlaying previous auger geochemistry data on new drone magnetic data highlights that the Barra Barra Greenstone Belt intrusive represents an apparent folded intrusive body horizon just outboard and bordering the main folded magnetic strata.
This may represent a sill-like body lying structurally below and folded with the magnetic strata.
Based on this interpretation, four areas have been highlighted around this horizon with anomalous nickel, copper and PGE metal values in the auger geochemistry data.
Previous surface soil sampling was undertaken on a 100 x 200-metre grid and recorded some of the highest Western Yilgarn PGE recordings including 73.7 parts per billion (ppb) platinum and palladium with a 5-kilometre +10ppb platinum and palladium north-south strike, along with values to 466 parts per million (ppm) nickel and 843ppm copper.
These areas represent priority targets for follow-up exploration, as does investigation of the margins of the antiform folded magnetic body in the west of the project.
Work program
NickelX contracted Gyro Australia to infill auger geochemical soil sampling over the four high-priority areas identified on a 50 x 50-metre grid.
This will be followed up by ground electromagnetic surveys to test for potential massive nickel-copper-PGE sulphides.
The results of the infill geochemistry and EM will be targeted with a maiden drilling program once appropriate permitting is in place.