Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has welcomed assays from recent drilling at the Callisto palladium-nickel-copper-platinum-gold-rhodium discovery, part of 100%-owned Norseman project in Western Australia.
Assays have been reported for 13 exploration drill holes and two metallurgical twin drill holes. All but one exploration drill hole returned a significant 3E (palladium-platinum-gold) result, above 0.5 g/t.
The company thinks there is a strong possibility of additional mineralised intrusions within the five-kilometre prospective horizon to the north at the blind undercover discovery.
The disseminated sulphide mineralisation at Callisto continues to demonstrate consistency between drill holes across all sections.
Highlights
Galileo has recorded some of its highest-grade palladium and platinum assays to date, including:
- 1 metre @ 11.23 g/t 3E1 (8.42 g/t palladium, 2.74 g/t platinum, 0.07 g/t gold), 0.10% copper and 0.80% nickel from 264 metres within a wide high-grade interval of 34 metres @ 1.87 g/t 3E (1.51 g/t palladium, 0.30 g/t platinum, 0.06 g/t gold), 0.25% copper and 0.28% nickel from 235 metres.
Step out drilling 200 metres east of existing drill holes continues apace, targeting the potential source of mineralisation.
The company notes there is consistent mineralisation between drill holes on all sections, including:
- 14 metres @ 3.08 g/t 3E (2.55 g/t palladium, 0.40 g/t platinum, 0.13 g/t gold), 0.42% copper and 0.41% nickel from 271 metres including 1 metre @ 7.42 g/t 3E (6.24 g/t palladium, 0.81 g/t platinum, 0.37 g/t gold), 0.91% copper and 0.63% nickel from 275 metres; and
- 36 metres @ 1.91 g/t 3E (1.57 g/t palladium, 0.26 g/t platinum, 0.08 g/t gold), 0.31% copper and 0.31% nickel from 239 metres including 6 metres @ 3.48 g/t 3E (2.89 g/t palladium, 0.44 g/t platinum, 0.14 g/t gold), 0.47% copper and 0.47% nickel from 251 metres.
The two metallurgical holes also confirmed high-grade shallow mineralisation:
- 35 metres @ 2.00 g/t 3E (1.64 g/t palladium, 0.27 g/t platinum, 0.09 g/t gold), 0.36% copper and 0.33% nickel from 139 metres; and
- 42 metres @ 1.60 g/t 3E (1.30 g/t palladium, 0.23 g/t platinum, 0.07 g/t gold), 0.24% copper and 0.28% nickel from 136 metres.
The metallurgical program continues, with a focus on producing a single bulk sulphide concentrate similar to that produced by operating South African platinum-group element (PGE) mines.
Best palladium and platinum yet
Galileo’s drills are still spinning and are now trained on determining the size and grade of the sulphide zones at Callisto, understanding the relationship with the much larger host sill, and looking for a possible source of the discovery to the east and north along strike.
“The latest results show that the mineralised zone at Callisto is growing and, with the highest palladium and platinum assays yet received, we believe we have only just started to understand the potential of this new discovery,” managing director Brad Underwood said.
“Geological interpretation shows that there are multiple mineralised rock units in the area and that the source of these rocks may exist further to the east and north. To test this concept we have planned a series of step-out drill holes 200 metres distant from the existing drilling.
“This current round of drilling will rapidly increase our knowledge of the Callisto discovery and provide the opportunity to add value both to Callisto and to the five kilometres of prospective strike length to the north.
“We are excited to be exploring a newly discovered palladium-nickel district and looking forward to the next round of results from our ongoing drilling programs.”