Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG) has received positive assay results from two Phase 2 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes MTRC023 and MTRC024 at the Mulga Tank Project, on the Minigwal Greenstone Belt, in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields.
An initial 17 holes are planned to be drilled during the first half of the Phase 2 programme predominantly focused on infilling the higher-grade core area identified by the Company’s JORC Exploration Target modelling.
Assay results have been received for the first two holes MTRC023 to MTRC024 which both highlight broad intersections of nickel sulphide mineralisation. MTRC024 is of particular interest with an interval of 3m at 2.19% Ni, 777ppm Co and 597ppm Cu including 1m at 4.51% Ni, 0.16% Co and 0.14% Cu from 253m confirming visual observations and logging of matrix to semi-massive sulphide.
These are the first assay results from the Phase 2 programme and validate the company’s approach of infill drilling the higher-grade core area identified in the Phase 1 program.
The results confirm the drilling was successful in targeting shallow mineralisation.
Numerous intervals of interpreted nickel sulphide mineralisation based on geochemical signature (elevated Ni and S, in combination with highly anomalous Cu and PGE) were identified down the holes.
“These assay results are a fantastic start to the Phase 2 RC and really validate our approach with this program. The initial 17 holes look to infill around the higher-grade core area and increase confidence in this zone. Hole MTRC024 steps out ~200m to the west of hole MTRC016 and returned remarkably similar results - MTRC024 199m at 0.31% Ni including 44m at 0.44% Ni versus MTRC016 200m at 0.30% Ni including 35m at 0.45% Ni,” Managing Director Dr Caedmon Marriott said.
“A secondary goal, or outcome, as we narrow down the RC drill spacing, is that we increasingly seem to intersect zones of high-grade matrix to semi massive sulphide around 180m to 280m depth. These have now been seen in six or seven, holes, up to 900m apart, over about 0.5 sq. km area.
“The result from hole MTRC024, returning 3m at 2.19% Ni, 777ppm Co and 597ppm Cu including 1m at 4.51% Ni, 0.16% Co and 0.14% Cu is very exciting. We will look to target thicker intervals of this material with follow-up work - just a modest improvement in the width of these high-grade intersections could really change the game for the project. We hope that as drilling density increases there will be a good chance of hitting more of these high-grade targets.”