60-hole maiden drill program completed with >10,000m drilled
Initial results from eight holes confirm high-grade magmatic sulphides, 52 assays pending
Three new reef targets identified, extending total strike length to 42km
Special Report: Terra Metals has just wrapped up a massive 60-hole, >10,000m RC drill program at the Dante copper-gold-nickel-PGE project in WA’s West Musgrave, confirming a mineralised strike length that would take a full marathon run to traverse.
Nestled within the emerging West Musgrave critical minerals district in WA, Terra Metals’ (ASX:TM1) Dante project is part of a geological complex hosting one of the world’s largest mining developments – BHP’s (ASX:BHP) Nebo-Babel deposit.
BHP is in the middle of constructing its $1.7bn 390Mt Nebo-Babel nickel-copper-PGE project with associated infrastructure that de-risks projects such as TM1’s Dante in terms of logistics.
Drilling completed, marathon strike length
60 drillholes for 10,220m across four regional targets have been completed across TM1’s Dante project.
Testing the Crius Reef, Hyperion Reef, Oceanus Reef, and Cronus prospects, assays from the first eight drill holes are already in and have confirmed the presence of high-grade magmatic sulphides, including copper, gold, and platinum group elements (PGE).
Early results from the Crius Reef are showing promising hits, including:
5m @ 0.56% copper, 0.53g/t PGE, 0.61% V2O5, and 18.5% TiO2 from 80m at hole URC003
2m @ 1.17g/t PGE, 1.04% V2O5, and 18.9% TiO2 from 23m at hole URC001
TM1 says the results support the presence of a substantial magmatic sulphide system at depth, with further geochemical interpretation underway to pinpoint areas of high-grade mineralisation.
In addition to the drilling results, the explorer has identified three new outcropping reefs: Typhon Reef (10km), Helios Reef (6km), and Pytho Reef (3km).
The latest discoveries have increased the total strike length of the reefs at Dante by a whopping 82%, now totalling a marathon 42km.
The maiden drilling program is aimed to establish a foundation for further exploration, focusing on initial targets that show potential for hosting significant mineral resources.
Results from the remaining 52 holes across ~8,500m are expected to be received in the coming weeks.
Plan view of the completed 60-hole drilling program at Dante. Pic: supplied (TM1)
Next Steps for Terra
TM1 says the technical team has already transitioned into field reconnaissance and target generation for the next phase of exploration.
Key activities include:
Strike extensional and infill drilling to further define stratiform magmatic Cu-Au-PGE sulphide mineralisation
Mapping and sampling of new reef targets, supported by surface geochemistry and geophysical modelling
Electromagnetic (EM) surveys to identify both stratiform and chronolithic magmatic sulphide targets.
Ongoing efforts to support target generation will include 3D inversion modelling of high-resolution aeromagnetic data collected during 2023.
TM1 will also conduct reviews of drillhole and surface geochemistry to guide further exploration and interpretation of airborne and ground EM anomalies for detailed structural understanding.
“We are pleased to have successfully completed our maiden 10,220m drilling program at the Dante Cu-Au-PGE-Ni project with the first eight holes confirming the presence of magmatic copper-gold-PGE sulphides at the Crius Reef and Cronus prospects.
“Assays are pending for the remaining 52 holes, and we look forward to reporting the remaining results as they become available.”
This article was developed in collaboration with Terra Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
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