Norwest in search of copper paradise at Bali project in WA

New RC drilling program under way at Norwest’s Bali copper project in WA’s Ashburton region
Geologists recently identified 10 high-grade copper-bearing structures following improved site access
Bali was previously mined for copper during the 1950s and 1960s

Special report: Norwest Minerals is back on the ground at its Bali copper project in the Ashburton region of Western Australia with the first RC holes set to be drilled into two “highly prospective” targets.

Earthworks completed by Norwest Minerals (ASX: NWM) late last year created better access for company geologists to the Deep South and Conglomerate prospects where surface projections of 10 high-grade copper and copper-gold bearing structures have been identified.

According to the company, systematic rock chip sampling along those structures returned high-grade copper assays, with most samples exceeding 20% copper and many containing significant gold mineralisation.

Field work also identified a 750m copper-rich conglomerate – known as V6 – averaging 18% copper at surface and measuring up to 5m wide.

The first stage of drilling will test V6. Veins at V3 (210m long with an average surface grade of 25% Cu) and V10 (40m with an average surface grade of 23% copper) will also be tested in the coming program.

Map showing vein structure V1 to V10 and associated copper and gold grades from rock chip sampling across the Deep South and Conglomerate prospects. Pic via NWM

Access open door to copper exploration potential 

Located 70km south-west of Paraburdoo, Bali was subject to small-scale mining in the 1950s and 1960s.

RC drilling was completed at the Bali Lo and Bali High prospects in 1983 before NWM reintroduced rigs to the project in October 2022 and intersected broad zones of copper mineralisation grading up to 1.5% along approximately 4km of the main Bali shear zone.

New tracks cut last year for drilling at Bali South improved access to the project, particularly the southern area where the terrain is much better suited for field exploration and led to the discovery of the 10 high-grade copper structures.

NWM believes the copper-bearing structures exposed at Deep South and Conglomerate “generally” strike north-west over a total distance of 3,200m.

It is also thought the high-grade core of the shear zones comprise a chalcocite-dense quartz vein breccia within the intensely silicified and kaolinised siltstones of the Ashburton Formation.

RC drilling of key copper targets V1 and V2 is also planned for early next year following the completion of further earthworks.

Schematic Section A – A’ with interpretation of folded V6-Conglomerate unit creating potential trap for concentration of Bali copper mineralisation. Pic via NWM

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Norwest Minerals, 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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