Miramar searching for Norilsk-style nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE mineralisation at its Bangemall project in WA’s Gascoyne region
Five targets have been tested at Mount Vernon and Trouble Bore
Maiden drilling being planned
Special Report: Electromagnetic (EM) ground surveys at Miramar Resources’ Mount Vernon and Trouble Bore projects in WA’s Gascoyne region have outlined multiple drill targets with similarities to the giant Norilsk nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE deposits.
Mount Vernon and Trouble Bore are part of Bangemall, which Miramar Resources (ASX:M2R) believes could turn into a district-scale set of deposits.
Exploration so far suggests Bangemall contains intrusion-related nickel, copper and PGE mineralisation related to the 1,070 million year old Kulkatharra Dolerite sills.
These are part of the Warakurna Large Igneous Province – the same age as BHP’s (ASX:BHP) Nebo-Babel deposit currently being developed.
EM surveys define drill targets
Ground EM surveys comprising a mixture of Fixed Loop (FLTEM) and Moving Loop (MLEM) methods recently tested five airborne EM anomalies within the Mount Vernon and Trouble Bore projects.
Mt Vernon and the Trouble Bore projects showing airborne and ground EM anomalies in relation to Kulkatharra Dolerite sills. Pic: Supplied (M2R)
They outlined large shallow conductive drill targets consistent with M2R’s Norilsk-style nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE deposit model and interestingly Target D, at the western end, showed the presence of two large shallow, sub-horizontal plates with strong conductances after FLTEM data was analysed.
M2R says its initial aim is to show “proof of concept” of the Norilsk-style deposit model by discovering nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE sulphide mineralisation.
Over the past two years the company has progressed from regional-scale area selection to a collection of project-scale datasets and, more recently, to delineation of individual drill targets.
Upcoming work includes systematic rock chip sampling and preparation for the maiden drilling campaign.
Drilling a district-scale opportunity
M2R executive chair Allan Kelly is excited about the district-scale opportunity evolving within the Bangemall projects.
“Whilst many nickel producers are under pressure at the moment, mafic intrusion-hosted deposits such as Nova and Nebo Babel can be large and very valuable, due to the mix of metals present, which makes them immune to short-term fluctuations in the nickel price,” he says.
“At Mount Vernon and Trouble Bore, we are seeing all the ingredients needed for the formation of this type of deposit.
“We have nickel and copper-bearing dolerite sills intruding into sulphidic sediments, evidence of differentiation, including mafic cumulate rocks, and indications of accumulations of conductive sulphides within and/or beneath the sills.”
This article was developed in collaboration with Miramar Resources, 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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