NickelSearch Ltd (ASX:NIS) is poised to kick off diamond drilling across two high-priority sulphide targets at its Carlingup Nickel Sulphide Project near Ravensthorpe in Western Australia.
At Sexton, the company will test a strong down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) conductor down-plunge where previous results demonstrated continuity of mineralisation.
Subsequently, the diamond drill will move to the B1 target, to test known historical nickel sulphide mineralisation further down plunge.
High-priority targets
NickelSearch managing director Nicole Duncan said: “Our next step is to follow up reverse-circulation drilling with diamond drilling, which will improve our understanding of the geology and architecture at these high-priority greenfield nickel sulphide targets.
At Sexton, we intersected nickel-bearing massive sulphides in line with historical drilling and down-plunge drilling suggests the presence of thicker sulphide mineralisation.
"The strike length of nickel mineralisation at Sexton now extends to 150 metres and remains open.
“At B1, we confirmed and extended the known nickel mineralisation.
“Overall, these developments are encouraging and demonstrate the potential for further success in our nickel sulphide exploration efforts."
Drill summary
Four RC holes were drilled at Sexton in January 2023, with each hole intersecting nickel-bearing sulphide mineralisation.
Based upon the current drilling at Sexton, the overall plunge length of the mineralisation extends to 150 metres and remains open both up and down-plunge.
At B1, NickelSearch drilled seven RC holes for a total of 1,108 metres to validate and extend nickel mineralisation identified by historical drilling.
Forward plan
The open pit and underground nickel sulphide mine at the RAV8 target produced 468,131 tonnes at 3.45% nickel for 16,129 tonnes of contained nickel between 2000 and 2007.
RAV8 remains a key exploration target, with down plunge extensions and structural repeats of mineralised shoots also likely to be high grade.
NickelSearch will be drilling at RAV8 during the coming wet months, which is a time when drilling at other nickel sulphide targets may not be possible due to adverse ground conditions.