Galileo Mining Ltd’s (ASX:GAL) latest results from a large program of ongoing electro-magnetic (EM) surveying surrounding the Lantern Prospect in the Fraser Range region of Western Australia has uncovered a large and strong conductor.
The EM survey covered 77.2 kilometres of survey lines being 790 stations over an area of around 31 square kilometres, and showed a new conductor at the Green Moon prospect of 4,000 Siemens with a strike length of 300 metres at a depth of 545 metres below surface.
Near surface aircore drilling at Green Moon has previously defined mafic intrusive rock types prospective for magmatic nickel-copper deposits.
“Highly prospective area”
Galileo managing director Brad Underwood said: “Each program of exploration we undertake is bringing us closer to understanding the potential of the ground we are working.
“Our ongoing EM surveys have revealed another strong conductor close to known zones of sulphide mineralisation at the Lantern Prospect.
“Combining these results with the petrography data confirms that we are working in a highly prospective area.”
Lantern South massive sulphide petrography
Petrography results from the Lantern South diamond drill core have confirmed high tenor nickel and copper magmatic sulphide mineralisation.
The intersection of a 7-centimetre band of primary, massive sulphide assayed 4.6% nickel, 2.2% copper and 0.15% cobalt - demonstrates the ability of the mineralising system at the Lantern Prospect to create high grade nickel and copper sulphides.
There is also potential for multiple mineralised intrusions within the current 80 square kilometre search space.
The company is confident these results support the concept that if larger accumulations of massive sulphide exist at the Lantern prospect then there is a strong likelihood that the sulphides will be of high nickel tenor.
EM Surveying and Prospect Locations Surrounding Galileo’s Lantern Prospect in the Fraser Range (TMI magnetic background imagery)
“Pipeline of new targets”
At the Lantern prospect, EM surveying is ongoing and the company aims to build up a pipeline of new targets for further drill testing.
Underwood said: “The targets at Lantern East and Lantern South are now ready for drilling and we are steadily developing a pipeline of new targets for further testing.
“The Fraser Range is an exciting province to be exploring with excellent chances of a high value nickel discovery being made.”
The survey of the south area has commenced and is expected to be completed in November.
Next steps
Due to the depth of targets at the Green Moon and Lantern North prospects, additional surveying will be required to refine the conductors prior to drill testing.
By comparison, the modelling of conductors at Lantern East is more robust and these targets are ready for drill testing.
Upcoming work programs planned at the Lantern Prospect include:
- Moving loop electro-magnetic (MLEM) surveying of prospective zones south of the Lantern Prospect (currently ongoing);
- Reverse circulation (RC) drill testing of EM targets at Lantern East and of sulphide mineralisation at Lantern South (timing dependent on drill rig availability); and
- Aircore drilling of new zones of interest along strike from the current work area to determine prospectivity beneath sedimentary cover rocks (planned for Q1 2021).