South-east Asian metals explorer Victory West Moly (ASX: VWM, FSE: R1E) drilling at the USSU Nickel project has identified the high grade saprolite horizon to be thicker than expected.
Victory West said a change in the drilling program where holes are drilled 3 metres into the bedrock compared with the initial 1 metre, has resulted in several holes identifying additional depth of saprolite below floating bedrock boulders.
As a result the average depth of the drilled holes has increased to 22 metres from an expected average of 15 metres.
Samples are currently being compiled into a model for comparative analysis against the historical data.
Victory West is in the process of finalising the 70% acquisition of the USSU Nickel Project, which covers around 1,608 hectares in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
South Sulawesi is within a known prolific nickel laterite province with several existing major operations nearby including the Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) 162 million tonne project and the PT International Nickel Indonesia (JAK: INCO) Sorowako 161 million tonne project.