Maximus Resources Ltd’s (ASX:MXR) ongoing geological review has outlined several high priority exploration targets for Kambalda-style komatiite-hosted nickel sulphide mineralisation across its Spargoville tenement holdings.
Priority nickel targets within the Spargoville tenements include:
- Hilditch – 300 metres outcropping/sub-cropping nickel-bearing gossan adjacent to a 450 metres soil anomaly with an untested historical EM conductor and nickel intersections up to 4%;
- Highway - Magnetic anomaly and nickel drill intersections directly north of the historical 1A nickel mine;
- Central - 5 kilometres of highly prospective stratigraphy between two historical nickel mines with very limited drilling; and
- Andrews Shaft - Prospective ultramafic corridor with shallow nickel anomalies, with no ground-based geophysics conducted over the area of interest.
Maximus Spargoville tenements feature around 16 kilometres of contiguous, under-explored northern extension of the ultramafic belt which hosts Mincor Resources NL’s Cassini nickel deposit and Neometals Ltd’s (ASX:NMT) Mt Edwards Project.
The tenements are underexplored due to previous fragmented ownership, presenting Maximus with an opportunity to explore for nickel sulphides in a highly fertile world-class nickel district in parallel with the gold exploration.
Hilditch target
Hilditch covers the extension of the Spargoville Shear around 7.5 kilometres north of Wattle Dam Gold Mine and 5 kilometres south of Karora Resources Inc’s (TSE:KRR) (OTCMKTS:KRRGF) (FRA:5RN1) high-grade Spargos Reward Gold Mine and has high priority nickel and gold occurrences.
Historical shallow drilling of the target area returned promising nickel intersections including:
- 2 metres at 2.4% nickel and 0.5% copper from 74 metres;
- 4 metres at 1.8% nickel and 0.5% copper from 25 metres;
- 2 metres at 1.2% nickel from 1 metre; and
- 2 metres at 1% nickel from 74 metres.
A geological review of the Hilditch nickel target highlights several historical electromagnetic conductors that require follow-up.
Highway target
The Highway nickel target area comprises a magnetic anomaly and minor nickel drill intersections, immediately north of the historical 1A nickel mine, for which Estrella Resources Ltd (ASX:ESR) holds the nickel rights and Maximus the remaining minerals.
Drillhole intersections from the historical and BRW drilling within the 1A mine include:
- 3.5 metres at 5.4% nickel;
- 5.6 metres at 4.3% nickel;
- 7.29 metres at 6.9% nickel;
- 2.75 metres at 2.1% nickel;
- 8.5 metres at 3.6% nickel;
- 0.9 metres at 2.6% nickel;
- 0.16 metre at 5.1% nickel in an inter-channel position; and
- 0.15 metre at 8.5% nickel on the margin of the defined mineralised trend beneath the mine.
In addition, sparse drilling near the northern margin of the 1A nickel mine has intersected minor intersections including:
- 0.1 metres at 5% nickel from 190.95 metres; and
- 0.45 metres at 2% nickel from 195.4 metres.
Longitudinal projection of the nickel deposits and mines in the Widgiemooltha – Hilditch belt, looking west.
Central target
Central Target is around 5 kilometres of highly prospective stratigraphy between the 1A nickel mine to the north and Estrella’s Andrews Shaft to the south.
Drill hole intersections below the lowermost level of the mine (11 Level at around 330 metres below natural surface) include:
- 8.35 metres at 3.5% nickel;
- 1.25 metres at 4.9% nickel;
- 2 metres at 2.6% nickel; and
- 1.2 metres at 2.8% nickel.
Within the Central Target area, two limbs of antiformally folded ultramafics are recognised. The 1A nickel mine is on the eastern limb, and the Andrews Shaft nickel mine is on the western limb.
The exploration of the western limb has been dominated by RAB drilling to a maximum depth of around 45 metres which returned anomalous drill intersections of 4 metres at 0.8% nickel from 28 metres and 4 metres at 0.6% nickel from 40 metres.
Both limbs of the fold are considered prospective for further nickel mineralisation.
Andrews Shaft West
Andrews Shaft West is a prospective nickel corridor of continuous stratigraphy directly north of the Wattle Dam Gold Project.
An internal review of consolidated databases highlights sparse shallow RAB with low-level soil anomalism, with anomalous nickel intersections including:
- 8 metres at 0.5% nickel from 8 metres; and
- 16 metres at 0.5% nickel from 8 metres.
Exploration plans
A ground-based electromagnetic survey will be conducted this quarter with the assistance of independent geophysics consultancy GeoDiscovery Group, engaged to provide technical input in the review of legacy data as well as design interpretation of the surveys.
In addition, a review of the significant legacy geochemical dataset will be undertaken on a prospect-by-prospect basis to assist with geophysical program planning and identification of prospective target areas.
The company will also plan a follow-up drill program after receiving the review of completed geophysics survey results.