Maximus Resources Limited (ASX:MXR) has confirmed a late-time conductor in prospective stratigraphic position though 14.5 line-km of Fixed Loop Electromagnetic (FLEM) Surveys at the Wattle Dam East Nickel target.
Wattle Dam East is located within the company’s Spargoville tenements and located 25km from BHP’s Kambalda Nickel Concentrator in Western Australia.
The significant conductor in the order of 6000-8000 Siemens has been modelled from 150m below surface and dipping 56° to the west. The target for the FLEM survey was for a blind nickel-sulfide occurrence obscured by younger stratigraphy.
Ultramafic rocks that host sulfide nickel mineralisation in the Spargoville – Mt Edwards corridor characteristically have north-northwest strike and dip west at 55 – 75 degrees, as observed at Neometals’ Zabel Ni deposit ~900m to the south, and at Estrella Resources Andrews Shaft nickel mine ~1,300m to the north; respectively.
Maximus says the modelled conductance of the Wattle Dam East anomaly can be typical of sulphide occurrences; however, this is dependent on sulphide abundance, mineralogy, and texture. The company told shareholders it is encouraged by the discrete conductor occurring within laterally continuous prospective stratigraphy.
EM conductors may also be due to the presence of conductive sulfidic and graphitic shales, which are present in the ultramafic stratigraphy, however the Wattle Dam East anomaly has a restricted strike extent compared with the interflow ‘shale’ (pelite) units.
Nickel Sulfide mineralisation in the Kambalda area is related to ultramafic komatiite lava extrusion and mineralisation is hosted both within komatiite and at the basal contact with underlying basalts. Recent greenfield Nickel discovery in the area includes Mincor Cassini Nickel Deposit with a Ore Reserve of 1.05 million tonnes of ore grading 3.3% Nickel.
The EM anomaly will now be tested by diamond-drilling at the centre of the modelled conductor, at approximately 400m below surface. Drilling at Wattle Dam East is expected to be completed by late February 2021, following the completion ~800m of diamond drilling at the recent discovery at the company’s S5 gold prospect, which is proximal to the Wattle Dam East Nickel target.