Estrella Resources Limited (ASX: ESR) has continued to intersect several significant bands of massive nickel-copper-iron sulphides breccias within a 28mzone of nickel-copper-iron mineralisation in its Phase 3 diamond drilling programme at the 100% owned Carr Boyd Nickel-Copper Project, located ~80km north of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Hole CBDD054A was wedged off the CBDD054 parent hole and lifted to a position on the basal contact 25m above the previously announced intersection of massive sulphides in CBDD054 which was reported to the market on June 1, 2021 increasing the defined mineralised area within the Upper T5 conductor which remains open north and south. Further conductors remain to be drill tested.
The drillhole intersected a sequence of massive and semi-massive sulphides intermixed within a halo of globular to disseminated and stringer sulphides just off the basal contact at T5.
Based on the sulphide intersections in CBDD030, CBDD033 and CBDD054 the true width of the mineralised zone is approximately 14m.
The sulphides within CBDD054A show a history of local massive sulphide remobilisation and globular sulphide settling along the T5 basal contact. The T5 contact has been interpreted as a flexure at the base of the Carr Boyd, T5 pyroxenite feeder zone.
This flexure has changed the flow dynamics of the rising magma and allowed transported sulphides to settle out onto the basal contact. Geologists refer to this as a sulphide “trap site”.
The spacing used for the initial Phase 3 drilling will enable the company’s geologists to gain a much more detailed understanding of the mineralisation dynamics at T5, enabling a better interpretation of historical drilling intercepts and a more targeted approach to exploration during the latter stages of Phase 3 (still underway with two diamond drill rigs) and the step-out Phase 4 drilling
Managing Director, Chris Daws, said the company has learned a lot from the detailed study of the core and the sulphide intersections to date. The orientation of the basal contact that so far has produced the right conditions for the settling of nickel- copper sulphides appears to continue for some considerable distance and Phase 4 will be aimed at testing this to the fullest extent.
We are further buoyed by this impressive 28-metre intersection which contains significant bands of massive nickel-copper-iron sulphides,” Mr Daws said.
“Our Phase 3 drilling campaign continues to provide further evidence of significant quantities of sulphides being present within the T5 discovery area at Carr Boyd which remains open north, south and at depth.
“Our understanding of the geological setting and controls at Carr Boyd is increasing with every drill hole and remain confident that the geological model is correct. With A$11.3M of option funds now fully underwritten the company has never been in a stronger position to unravel the geological secrets that exist at Carr Boyd. I look forward to updating shareholders and the broader market as results are obtained.”
