St George Mining (ASX:SGQ) plans to drill four new electromagnetic targets at the Stricklands prospect within the Mt Alexander project located in Western Australia.
A large electromagnetic anomaly has been confirmed at Stricklands by the fixed loop electromagnetic survey.
Four drill holes have been designed to test new targets within this large anomaly.
The drill program is on track to commence by early March.
John Prineas, executive chairman, commented: “Our drilling at Stricklands in 2016 confirmed the presence of recurrent high grade mineralisation over a strike length of 150 metres.
“The new drill targets offer an excellent opportunity to extend the known mineralisation here.”
Mt Alexander
During 2016 St George acquired the Mt Alexander project on competitive terms, and proceeded to identify EM anomalies in the Cathedrals Belt by the fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) SAMSON survey.
Mt Alexander Project is located 120 kilometres south-southwest of the Agnew-Wiluna belt which hosts numerous world class nickel deposits.
The project comprises four granted exploration licences – E29/638, E29/548, E29/962 and E29/954.
The Cathedrals, Stricklands and Investigators nickel-copper discoveries are located on E29/638, which is held in joint venture by Western Areas (ASX:WSA) (25%) and St George (75%).
St George is the manager of the project with Western Areas retaining a 25% non-contributing interest in the Project (in regard to E29/638 only) until there is a decision to mine.
Analysis
Drilling opens the door to potential for the discovery of further massive nickel-copper sulphides which could extend the area of known mineralisation.
Significantly, the most recent holes delivered assays featuring 4.3 metres at 4.26% nickel, 2.02% copper, 0.19% cobalt and 3.21 g/t total platinum group elements from 53.9 metres.
With high grade nickel-copper sulphides at Stricklands intersected at just circa 50 metres from surface, more drilling success could see this prospect emerge as a priority area for a potential resource.
Geological modelling of drill hole data from 2016 indicates that all intersections of massive nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation at Stricklands are hosted within the same ultramafic unit about 50-70 metres below surface.
Many Western Australian nickel sulphide mines started out with mineralised intersections more modest than what St George is witnessing in early drilling at Stricklands.
With the electromagnetic data and geological interpretation supporting the case for greater continuity of mineralisation, the upcoming drill program is a good opportunity to provide St George with its next catalyst.