Impact Minerals Limited (ASX:IPT) has received high-grade assays for platinum group elements (PGE) with associated high grades of nickel and copper at its Plat Central prospect within the Broken Hill Project in New South Wales.
The assays confirm and are in line with expectations from measurements made with a hand-held XRF instrument of nickel, copper and Impact’s proprietary geochemical ratio which has been shown to have an exceptional positive correlation with PGE grades.
The best assays results include 1 metre at 22.7 g/t 7PGE, 3.3 % nickel, 1% copper, 23 g/t silver and 755 g/t cobalt.
The 7PGE grade comprises of 10.9 g/t palladium, 7.3 g/t platinum, 0.9 g/t rhodium, 1.3 g/t osmium, 1.4 g/t iridium and 0.6 g/t ruthenium and 0.1 g/t gold.
Strong lateral zonation
The nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation shows strong lateral zonation across the width of the channel, which is likely the product of sulphide fractionation, a process well known in nickel-copper-PGE deposits globally.
Importantly, the sulphide fractionation model explains many of the features of the mineralisation along the Moorkai Trend and is a powerful tool to guide further exploration.
The model, in conjunction with Impact’s proprietary ratio that is a predictor of PGE grade, is being used to guide further drilling which is still in progress.
The channel has been tracked 25 metres up-dip to the south with drilling to track the channel down dip to the north to commence imminently.
Next steps
A further line of drill holes has now been completed 25 metres to the south of, and up-dip from, the initial line at Plat Central.
The ratio indicates that PGE mineralisation is likely to be present over some distance on this line as well.
A detailed interpretation of the data is in progress and drilling to the north down dip will start shortly.
Samples from the new drill traverse have been submitted for assay with results due in early January.
Drilling is also ongoing at Little Broken Hill Gabbro and assays are due shortly for the first drill holes completed there as well as for Red Hill and Dora East.