Resource Mining Corporation Ltd (ASX:RMI) has begun a 2,000-metre diamond drilling program targeting a 2-kilometre-long ‘Southern Corridor’ identified in recent exploration at the Liparamba Nickel Project in Tanzania.
The program is expected to take around two months, with assay results expected over the next three months.
RMI is testing for the presence of nickel sulphide mineralisation after the company pinpointed substantial coincidental geophysical and geochemical mafic targets through a recent AMT survey.
Past geophysical evaluations and soil sample test work undertaken by BHP/Albidon bolstered these findings.
This new drilling program is a direct follow-up to the preliminary identification of sulphides observed in a recent reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign.
The positive outcomes from the RC drilling led to the current program of works.
“With the strength of the evidence mounting at Liparamba, including the confirmation of nickel sulphides within field samples and the first diamond drill hole, samples from our recent RC drilling, as well as the findings from our AMT geophysical survey and historical AEM data form BHP/ Albidon, we are excited to now be testing this highly prospective target with a 12 hole diamond drilling campaign testing to the depths that the targets were identified," executive chairman Asimwe Kabunga said.
"We will update the market on our findings as they become available.”
Drill program details
RMI will drill a total of 12 150-200-metre-deep diamond drill holes along the southern corridor of the Liparamba Nickel Project.
Planned diamond drill holes along the Southern Corridor of the Liparamba Nickel Project.
The program will concentrate on the coincidental anomalies from the AMT and AEM data, as well as recent geological field surveys and older soil surveys.
Diamond drilling has already started at Liparamba at the drill site location referenced as LPDD001 (currently at 60.7 metres of planned 150-metre drill hole).
All core has been collected and geologically logged by the registered geologist on site. The drill hole currently is variably weathered with remnant gabbro present as 'boulders'. All fresh gabbro within remnant boulders down hole contained disseminated sulphides as a trace occurrence (<1%) – the sulphides were noted to be magnetic in form.
Logged presence and intervals of sulphides within Diamond Drill Hole LPDD001.
RMI, while acknowledging the disclosure of visual sulphides, emphasises the limitations of visual assessments. The firm strongly advises against taking visual recognition of sulphide material as an equivalent to rigorous laboratory analysis. RMI will keep the market informed as lab results emerge.
RMI has already identified disseminated sulphides through the diamond program.
The program's continuation aims to ensure that all planned drill holes penetrate to a depth of at least 150 metres. This depth aims to intersect the numerous Audio-frequency Magnetotellurics (AMT) and Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM) anomalies identified, predominantly found within the 100-150 metre depth range.
If the need arises, provisions have been made for even deeper drilling.