The first batch of assays from a drillhole at Western Mines Group’s (ASX: WMG) Mulga Tank project in Western Australia have confirmed nickel-copper-platinum group elements (PGE) mineralisation.
The assays are part of an initial 10-hole diamond drilling program for a total 3,990 metres, designed to test a range of geological and geophysical areas based on exploration targeting work.
Initial geochemical results for 31 samples covering a 20m interval of the hole drilled within the Panhandle area of the Mulga Tank ultramafic complex intersected approximately 136m of komatiite affinity ortho-mesocumulate dunite.
Best anomalous results were 0.9m at 1.06% nickel, 0.06% copper and 0.05g/t platinum-palladium from 281.6m, including 0.3m at 1.57% nickel, 0.13% copper and 0.12g/t platinum-palladium from 281.9m; 0.3m at 0.58% nickel, 0.01% copper and 0.01g/t platinum-palladium from 283.1m; and 1m at 0.56% nickel from 289m.
Drilling was completed nearby to a historical hole which returned 0.25m at 3.8% nickel, 0.7% copper and 0.7g/t PGE.
Western Mines said targeting of the deeper basal contact in the centre of Panhandle could be a likely location or possible source of massive sulphide mineralisation.
Assays for a further nine samples covering a 9m interval at the basal contact of the hole are still pending.
The komatiite dunite contained seven thin nickel-copper sulphide veinlets predominantly formed of pentlandite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite.
Initial appraisals suggest these were likely remobilised from a massive sulphide source and not of primary or hydrothermal origin.
Western Mines said this conclusion has positive implications for the ongoing search for type one basal massive sulphide deposits in the area.
It highlighted the nearby untested NW2 conductor to the north of the drilled hole and in the centre of the Panhandle channel as a potential follow-up target during a second drilling program.
Mulga Tank is located on WA’s Minigwal Greenstone Belt, in what is described as the underexplored part of the eastern Yilgarn Craton.