St George Mining (ASX:SGQ) has received assay results from drilling at the Cathedrals Prospect within the Mt Alexander Project located in Western Australia.
Assays received include some of the best intersections of nickel-copper-cobalt-platinum group elements (PGEs) mineralisation to date at the Mt Alexander Project.
Highlights include 7.5 metres at 3.90% nickel, 1.74% copper, 0.12% cobalt and 3.32 g/t total PGEs.
Extensional drilling and testing of new electromagnetic (EM) targets at Cathedrals and Stricklands is being prioritised for the next drill program at the Mt Alexander Project.
John Prineas, chairman, commented: “The drilling results for Cathedrals are exceptional. We are seeing thick intervals of high-grade nickel sulphides complemented by high grades of copper, cobalt and platinum group metals – and the mineralisation starts at just 30 metres below surface.”
Drill result details
Seven diamond drill holes were completed at the Cathedrals Prospect as part of the recent drill program at Mt Alexander with all successfully intersecting mineralised ultramafic.
Results include:
- 7.5 metres at 3.90% nickel, 1.74% copper, 0.12% cobalt and 3.32 g/t PGEs from 57.8 metres including 3.15 metres at 6.36% nickel, 2.92% copper, 0.20% cobalt and 5.03 g/t PGEs;
- 4.28 metres at 2.75% nickel, 1.21% copper, 0.09% cobalt and 2.59 g/t total PGEs from 60.67 metres including 1.05 metres at 5.91% nickel, 2.63% copper, 0.21% cobalt and 2.57 g/t PGEs;
- 7.52 metres at 2.85% nickel, 1.26% copper, 0.09% cobalt and 2.59 g/t total PGEs from 99.58 metres including 3.74 metres at 4.29% nickel, 1.82% copper, 0.13% cobalt and 3.78 g/t PGEs; and
- 2.96 metres at 4.3% nickel, 1.25% copper, 0.15% cobalt and 3.21 g/t PGEs from 64.85 metres.
Results building continuity of mineralisation
Drilling results have confirmed that massive sulphide mineralisation commences from 30 metres below surface with a strike length of recurrent mineralisation over 200 metres.
Downhole EM surveys at Cathedrals have identified further strong off-hole conductors which are prospective for additional high-grade mineralisation.
Ultramafics at Stricklands Prospect signal nearby nickel sulphides
Four drill holes were completed at the Stricklands Prospect in the recent drill program at Mt Alexander, with three of the four drill holes intersecting mineralised ultramafic.
Hole MAD49 has identified a significant zone of channelised magma flow, which is the key control on nickel sulphide deposits.
Assays confirm 18.86 metres at 0.42% nickel, 0.16% copper, 0.02% cobalt and 0.36 g/t PGEs from 31.8 metres and 3.36 metres at 2.09% nickel, 1.18% copper, 0.09% cobalt and 1.82 g/t PGEs from 50.66 metres.
Mt Alexander Project
The Mt Alexander Project comprises four exploration licences and is located 120 kilometres from the Agnew-Wiluna belt which hosts numerous world class nickel deposits.
The project hosts the Cathedrals, Stricklands and Investigators nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE discoveries, which are located on licence E29/638.
This licence is held in joint venture by Western Areas Limited (25%) and operator St George (75%).
Analysis
Drill results from Mt Alexander continue to build a valuation profile for these emerging discoveries.
The assays at Cathedrals are both high-grade and near to surface, with mineralisation starting at 30 metres depth, which is favourable for any potential mining operation at Mt Alexander.
Furthermore, the mineralisation remains open with an excellent opportunity to continue extending the high-grade mineralisation with the next drill program.
Importantly, the high-grade massive sulphides intersected at Cathedrals present in downhole EM surveys as very strong on-hole EM conductors.
The potential for ongoing drilling and DHEM surveys to identify further high-grade mineralisation at Cathedrals is therefore elevated.