Maximus Resources Ltd (ASX:MXR) (FRA:M5F) has identified high priority nickel targets while completing reviews of data from Wattle Dam East nickel target on the company’s Spargoville tenements in Western Australia.
The company completed an internal geological review and also utilised an independent review by external geophysicists of historical EM surveys.
This independent review validated around 1.5 kilometres of a highly prospective corridor, which has several historic downhole and ground electromagnetic (EM) anomalies that have not been drill tested, and warrants immediate follow-up.
In prolific area
This corridor is between Estrella Resources Ltd’s (ASX:ESR) Andrews Shaft nickel deposit and Neometals Ltd’s (ASX:NMT) Zabel nickel deposit.
Several ground-EM and downhole-EM anomalies are spatially coincident with the prospective corridor, with the largest EM plate being 800 metres x 300 metres.
A 2-square-kilometre Fixed Loop Electromagnetic Survey (FLEM) over this prospective corridor is scheduled for January 2021.
Maximus’ Spargoville tenement holdings are highly prospective for Kambalda-style komatiite-hosted nickel sulphide mineralisation.
A near contiguous belt of nickel deposits extends from Mincor Resources NL’s (ASX:MCR) Cassini nickel deposit to the south of Neometals’ Widgiemooltha Dome/Mt Edwards projects through Estrella’s Andrews Shaft deposit, to the northern extent of the Maximus tenement package.
This area includes Maximus’ Wattle Dam East and Hilditch nickel prospects with the former immediately south of the 5B Nickel and Gold Mine.
The prospect comprises around 1.5 kilometres of strike potential within prospective stratigraphy and is 1,300 metres along strike from Andrews Shaft deposit with Zabel 900 metres to the southeast.
Independent review
The company has completed a review of historic exploration data, including the analysis of previously completed downhole EM surveys completed on Maximus’ tenement south of Estrella’s 5B and Andrew’s Shaft deposits.
On review of historic drilling and known EM plates, it was determined that the previous drilling did not adequately test or reach the targeted lithology or interpreted EM conductor plates for an Andrews’ Shaft equivalent sulphide position.
Work completed in the review confirmed that there is strong evidence of anomalous conductivity.
Given that this occurs coincident with the prospective stratigraphy, the anomalism could represent sulphide mineralisation.
Forward plan at Wattle Dam East
The company has engaged a reputable geophysics company to complete FLEM surveys in mid-January.
Depending on successful target generation by the survey, a reconnaissance diamond drill hole is scheduled to be completed following the current diamond drill program for gold at Redback, Wattle Dam South and the Golden Orb deposits.