QMines Ltd (ASX:QML) has identified six additional electromagnetic targets from its geophysical inversion study at the company’s flagship Mt Chalmers copper and gold project in Queensland.
The study funded by the Queensland Government Collaborative Exploration Initiative grant improves on the VHMS modelling conducted at the project by removing surface noise.
Notably, existing electromagnetic targets have now also been enhanced by the inversion process.
Moving forward, QMines aims to drill the best of these new and existing targets in 2024.
Enhancing existing targets
QMines executive chairman Andrew Sparke said: “We are excited to have identified new massive sulphide targets and enhance existing targets.
“The company anticipates drilling the best of these new and existing targets in 2024.
“With 40 anomalies to assess, QMines drilling and exploration pipeline should extend well into the future.
“Elsewhere, the combined Mt Chalmers, Woods Shaft and Develin Creek pre-feasibility study is progressing very well with multiple work streams currently underway.
“An update on this is expected shortly.”
Inversion study
The objective of the geophysical inversion study is as follows:
- resolve weak basement conductors hidden by polarisation signals in the clays above;
- give a more accurate map of ground resistivity; and
- directly detect disseminated sulphides.
The CEI funding was sought to cover the cost of reprocessing the Mt Chalmers data using this new technique to help improve understanding of whether the current technology justified wide application.
The Mt Chalmers data showed clear IP effects over large sections of the survey area, as well as moderate IP effects at the Mt Chalmers deposit itself.
EMergo SRL, a European geophysical consultancy, was contracted as the specialist in EM modelling.
The resultant model and ‘cleaned’ EM profile have been reviewed by Mitre and have enhanced several existing anomalies as well as located new exploration targets.
Despite some technical limitations, the method was found to work well.
Modelling response at the Mt Chalmers mine site deposit.
New EM anomalies
One example of the newly refined VTEM survey targets is VTSCI 01.
This new anomaly is situated directly east-south-east of the newly discovered Artillery Road skarn drilled by the company in September 2023.
VTSCI_01_A is a broad, single peak early-mid to late time response.
This area is strongly influenced by IP effects.
The corrected model suggests a clearer late time anomaly across multiple survey lines (greater than 300 metres).
The resistivity model shows a deep (greater than 250 metres) conductor, but this conductor is almost certainly much deeper than the actual source.
Encouragingly, the response also includes a chargeability anomaly and may also be generating a weak reversely polarised magnetised anomaly.
The historical Geopeko mapping digitised by QMines indicates the surface outcrop is intrusive granite porphyry.
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