Tempus Resources Ltd (ASX:TMR, TSX-V:TMRR) has kicked off a large-scale airborne geophysical survey at its Prescott Project in Nunavut, Canada.
The Prescott Project – around 100 kilometres from American West Metals (ASX:AW1) Ltd's Storm Project, which hosts an indicated and inferred resource of 17.5 million tonnes at 1.2% copper and 3.4 g/t silver – spans more than 240 kilometres of apparent strike.
Survey will cover entire area
Prescott holds significant potential for hosting a sedimentary-hosted copper deposit or a Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) deposit.
The airborne survey, which deploys a fixed-wing aircraft, will use Airborne Gravity Gradiometric (AGG) technology. It involves gravity gradiometric and magnetic methods, and the company aims to cover the entire project area.
This advanced method offers higher resolution compared to traditional gravity surveys and will be processed into detailed 3D inversions to identify density anomalies.
Gravity is the preferred method in this region and has a proven track record of successful discoveries, such as the nearby Storm deposit and Polaris mine.
The survey, expected to last 45 days, will guide a geochemical mapping program scheduled for early August.
Preliminary geophysical data will be processed and interpreted to provide detailed, high-resolution 3D images of the subsurface. This information will support future exploration efforts and drilling campaigns.
Tempus is responsible only for mobilisation costs until the acquisition of the Prescott Project is finalised.
All permitting in place
The company has secured all necessary permits for its 2024 geophysical and geochemical exploration campaigns, including approvals from the Nunavut Planning Commission, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, along with water use and disposal permits.
Bell Geospace Enterprises LLC (BellGeo) is conducting the survey.
If shareholder approval for the acquisition is not obtained at the upcoming general meeting on June 13, 2024, Tempus will only bear the mobilisation costs.
Director Chris Hansen said: “We are pleased to be partnering with BellGeo, who having an idle plane in the region elected to commence the survey prior to the scheduled completion of the project acquisition.
“This is a great outcome for our shareholders as it serves to expedite this season’s exploration program at minimum cost should the acquisition not complete.
Proven success for method
“Gravity gradiometry has been selected as the preferred geophysical method given its proven success in the region, with gravity having served to positively identify copper mineralisation associated with the Storm deposit, as well as also being employed to discover the Polaris zinc-lead mine.
“The campaign is expected to take 45 days to complete with preliminary data being used to guide a targeted geochemical program aimed at identifying coincident geochemical and geophysical anomalies to support future drilling campaigns.”