NickelSearch Ltd (ASX:NIS) has unearthed nickel sulphide mineralisation in three of four holes drilled to investigate the Sexton prospect of the Carlingup Nickel Sulphide Project in Western Australia.
NIS completed 1,357 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling, investigating the regional prospects of Sexton, Javelin and RAV8 South.
The company encountered massive, matrix and stringer pyrrhotite-pyrite in several Sexton and Javelin holes, but little nickel, indicating the conductor plate identified in this area may be generated by the pyrrhotite, which is an iron sulphide.
NickelSearch also had some better luck at Sexton, where a historical drill intercept of 2 metres at 1.2% nickel and 0.17% copper from 98 metres of depth offered promise.
While assays are still pending, three holes at Sexton encountered visual nickel sulphides at NIS’s target horizon, including a 6-metre interval of massive and matrix sulphide from 149 metres of depth (drill hole 23NRC012).
Geology conducive to high-grade nickel
“We are excited to build upon the known mineralisation at Sexton,” NickelSearch managing director Nicole Duncan said. “We are eagerly awaiting assay results.
"Further drilling will be dependent upon assay results, but we will definitely be back at Sexton to continue to test along strike.
“We will continue to target RAV8, which produced 16,100 tonnes of nickel at 3.45% nickel (including 9,600 tonnes of nickel at 5.83% nickel).
“We know the geology can hold exceptional high-grade nickel massive sulphides.”
From here, NickelSearch intends to leverage results from a downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) survey (results due imminently) to define, refine and prioritise more drill targets at Carlingup.
The company is poised to secure drill approvals for an exploratory program on the Wadley and Lipple greenfield prospects, the next stage of NIS’s greenfield exploration strategy, which aims to grow the current resource base from 171,000 tonnes of nickel through system exploration and testing.