Metal Hawk Limited (ASX: MHK) has identified new untested electromagnetic conductors from a VTEM MAX survey in nickel sulphide exploration activities at the Yarmany Project in Western Australia.
The recently acquired Yarmany Project covers 282 sq. km along the Ida Fault, a major regional structure and crustal boundary between the Kalgoorlie and Youanmi Terranes.
The Versatile Time-Domain Electro-Magnetic (VTEM) Max survey has been completed over the majority of the Yarmany tenement area and preliminary data shows 11 strong bedrock conductors which are considered high priority targets for drilling.
The helicopter- borne survey was designed to detect electromagnetic conductors that could be indicative of accumulations of nickel sulphide mineralisation. Whilst geophysical processing and interpretation of data is continuing, Metal Hawk is preparing to drill test a selection of targets with a combination of aircore (AC) and reverse circulation (RC) drilling. Follow-up ground EM surveys will be planned over priority ultramafic target areas where more detail and conductor definition is required.
“This is the first EM survey carried out on the Yarmany project and it is very pleasing that we picked up so many strong late-time anomalies. Importantly, some of these conductors appear to be located within and adjacent to targeted ultramafic rock units. We are currently investigating these anomalies on the ground in order to determine the most suitable positions for drill testing,” Metal Hawk’s Managing Director, Will Belbin, said.
“We are also highly encouraged by the gossan sample results received from Reptile Dam. We will be following up these very strong Ni-Cu anomalies, which show the prospectivity of the ultramafic rocks that extend south along the Yarmany project for nearly 50 kilometres.”
Gossanous rockchip samples from the Reptile Dam prospect, situated at the northern end of the Yarmany Project have returned highly anomalous results up to 0.64% Ni and 1402pm Cu. These strong levels of coincident nickel and copper anomalism suggest that the largely untested Reptile Dam ultramafic unit has potential to host accumulations of nickel sulphide mineralisation.
The company has plans for further work at the prospect including ground electromagnetic surveys and RC drilling designed to test for both nickel and pegmatite-hosted lithium- caesium-tantalum (LCT) mineralisation. Historical drilling at the prospect identified thick intervals of pegmatite units that were not assayed for lithium.
The gossan assay results from Reptile Dam have positive implications for Metal Hawk’s nickel sulphide exploration plans further south on the project, where the interpreted ultramafic rocks are concealed by shallow sand and clay. The VTEM Max survey has identified several strong bedrock conductors in this area some of which are located in favourable positions on the margins of interpreted ultramafic rocks. These anomalies present as priority targets and will be tested in the company’s maiden drill program at Yarmany, currently scheduled for Q4 2023.
Metal Hawk’s Yarmany nickel sulphide exploration program is being conducted in parallel with the company’s lithium exploration activities. LCT-hosted pegmatite exploration is progressing well and includes extensive soil geochemical surveys, pegmatite sampling and mapping.
Following final processing of geophysical VTEM data, further interpretation and nickel sulphide target generation will be conducted. Combining the final VTEM results with the litho- structural interpretation will allow Metal Hawk to rank the targets for drill-testing. Field checking and validation of VTEM anomalies is underway.
PoW applications have been lodged for Metal Hawk’s maiden drill program at Yarmany, with drilling scheduled for Q4 2023.
