Nexus Minerals Ltd (ASX:NXM) has received one-metre assay results from its recently completed 5,172 metre, 46-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Payns Prospect within the Wallbrook Gold Project, located 140 kilometres northeast of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
The Prospect is around four kilometres northwest of Nexus’ Crusader-Templar combined mineral resource, which hosts 304,000 ounces of gold and just 500 metres west of the Branches Prospect. It’s also situated only one kilometre to the southeast of Northern Star Resources’ producing Porphyry and Million Dollar gold mines.
Nexus Wallbrook regional prospects location map.
In NXM's latest results, the finer sample resolution has improved definition of high-grade zones within the broader mineralised gold footprint, with grades reaching up to 30.05 grams per tonne (g/t) gold.
The latest assays delivered an overall uplift in gold grades compared with previously reported four-metre composite results. Significant intercepts include:
- 5 metres at 8.10 g/t gold, including 1 metre at 30.05 g/t (within 15 metres at 2.94 g/t) from 39 metres
- 8 metres at 4.19 g/t (within 15 metres at 2.37 g/t) from 37 metres
- 7 metres at 2.92 g/t, including 1 metre at 10.55 g/t (within 16 metres at 1.49 g/t) from 72 metres
- 6 metres at 2.76 g/t (within 12 metres at 1.46 g/t) from 28 metres
- 1 metre at 13.81 g/t (within 2 metres at 8.38 g/t) from 60 metres
- 4 metres at 3.35 g/t (within 15 metres at 1.02 g/t) from 39 metres
The Payns mineralised footprint extends across 900 by 750 metres and remains open both laterally and down plunge.
“Payns Prospect continues to demonstrate growing potential with a compelling grade profile. These exceptional one-metre results highlight broad continuity of mineralisation across the prospect with high-grade gold zones within,” Nexus managing director Andy Tudor said.
“The prospect is well positioned for more comprehensive infill drilling, which will also allow for efficient extensional drilling both laterally and down dip of the emerging mineralised zones. The most recent results further highlight the potential for Payns Prospect to add to the Wallbrook project’s gold resources.
“Building upon this success, the Wallbrook exploration effort continues to make excellent progress, with a substantial 6,000-metre RC program now underway at Godfrey, Clement and Target 4.1. All of these targets represent compelling opportunities to discover material gold mineralisation. We look forward to bringing updates as the program progresses.”
Building on earlier aircore drilling success
These results confirm and expand on previously reported aircore (AC) drilling success which included:
- 4 metres at 7.12 g/t gold (within 20 metres at 1.77 g/t gold) from 8 metres
- 4 metres at 6.85 g/t gold (within 16 metres at 2.74 g/t gold) from 28 metres
- 4 metres at 6.59 g/t gold (within 8 metres at 3.44 g/t gold) from 40 metres
- 4 metres at 5.02 g/t gold (within 8 metres at 2.60 g/t gold) from 20 metres
- 4 metres at 4.39 g/t gold (within 8 metres at 2.72 g/t gold) from 24 metres
- 4 metres at 3.82 g/t gold (within 8 metres at 2.73 g/t gold) from 32 metres
- 4 metres at 3.58 g/t gold (within 12 metres at 1.31 g/t gold) from 20 metres
- 4 metres at 2.80 g/t gold (within 8 metres at 1.47 g/t gold) from 40 metres – including visible gold
Payns Prospect Completed RC Drillholes – Highlight Results Map (yellow labels new 1m RC intercepts, white labels previous AC results).
Drilling has shown that gold grades correlate with:
- Increased quartz and goethite veining in oxide material
- Quartz–sulphide (pyrite ± tourmaline) veining in fresh rock
- Intensity of sericite, rutile, tourmaline and albite alteration — the regional gold signature
- Very high grades in proximity to hematised felsic intrusives in fresh rock
The Nexus exploration team continues to analyse gold assay and multi-element data. Future drilling will combine comprehensive infill programs within the identified mineralised envelope and targeted extensional drilling laterally and down dip. This approach aligns with the company’s strategy to efficiently grow the Wallbrook Project’s near-surface gold inventory.
Regional drilling begins
Nexus has also begun a further 6,000-metre RC drill program targeting the Clement Prospect, Godfrey Prospect and Target 4.1. The campaign is designed to test continuity, geometry and grade of emerging mineralised zones across the regional targets, building on systematic exploration success at Payns.
Nexus Wallbrook gold project location map.
At the Clement Prospect, situated immediately north of the Wallbrook Gold Mine, aircore drilling has outlined gold anomalism over 650 metres by 250 metres. Results include 8 metres at 2.94 grams per tonne (g/t) gold within 28 metres at 1.13 g/t from 44 metres. Drilling aims to test depth extensions, with mineralisation styles including steeply dipping haematite-altered porphyry and flatter quartz vein pods.
The Godfrey Prospect, 600 metres east of Crusader–Templar, has returned strong strike continuity across a 1,200-metre-by-100-metre corridor. Highlights include 4 metres at 4.02 g/t within 15 metres at 1.30 g/t from 24 metres. Planned drilling will target the highest-grade zones at depth to refine the geological model and assess mineralisation tenor.
At Target 4.1, located on the eastern side of the project, mineralisation extends along 1.7 kilometres of strike. Results include 23 metres at 2.52 g/t gold, including 8 metres at 5.41 g/t. Upcoming drilling will comprise fence lines across anomalous results, focusing on lithological contacts and structural zones to clarify geological controls and advance deposit understanding.
Drilling is expected to conclude in early October, with results to follow.