Strategic Energy Resources has picked up a new exploration licence in NSW
EL9621 appears to be a western extension of the Koonenberry copper-nickel belt previously explored by the likes of INCO/Vale and IGO
The belt is widely recognised as being analogous to the Tier-1 Pechenga copper-nickel camp in Russia
Special Report: Strategic Energy Resources has been granted a new exploration licence which the company believes is a western extension to the Koonenberry copper-nickel belt in NSW.
EL9621 is an unexplored ground package which covers an area of 483.5km2 and is adjacent to where Strategic Energy Resources (ASX:SER) is currently undertaking geophysical surveys at its Mundi IOCG project, about 115km north-northwest of Broken Hill.
SER has interpreted its new exploration licence to be a western extension of the Koonenberry belt, which is widely recognised as being highly prospective for copper-nickel massive sulphides and analogous to the Tier-1 Pechenga copper-nickel camp in Russia.
Of particular interest to the company is the linear magnetic rocks within the project area which it has also interpreted to be analogous with the Mount Arrowsmith mafic sills on the eastern side of the Koonenberry belt.
INCO/Vale and IGO (ASX:IGO) are among those to have previously explored the Koonenberry belt, while Mark Bennett’s S2 Resources (ASX:S2R) is also currently active in the area.
Joining the links
SER is currently targeting the mafic host rocks on the eastern edge of the Curnamona block which have been rifted from the Koonenberry belt during the formation of the Bancannia Trough.
The new West Koonenberry project area captures 60km of prospective stratigraphy which includes outcropping basalts at the southern end of the tenure.
This area has been geochemically linked to the Mount Arrowsmith Volcanics by the Geological Survey of NSW.
West Koonenberry is about 100km northeast of Broken Hill. Pic: Supplied (SER)
SER managing director David DeTata says the acquisition of the West Koonenberry licence aligned with the company’s strategy of securing large-scale greenfields projects which have the potential to host “world-class” deposits.
“The western Koonenberry belt shows a clear association with the eastern belt which has previously been shown to be fertile for magmatic copper-nickel sulphides,” DeTata says.
“The project has the potential for a significant prospectivity upgrade through fundamental geological investigations which we will commence this year.”
Next steps
SER is now looking to secure land access agreements so it can conduct reconnaissance mapping and sampling of the exposed geology at the southern end of the project.
The company is seeking to delineate prospective intrusions, while also undertaking geophysical assessments of the existing datasets to determine what new geophysical data can be collected to improve its understanding of the project.
This article was developed in collaboration with Strategic Energy 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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