Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has set the wheels in motion to begin drilling at Delta Blues prospect within the Fraser Project in Western Australia.
The company has identified two high priority nickel targets at DB1 and DB2 which will be tested with the upcoming initial program of 1,000 metres of diamond drilling.
Two drill holes are proposed for the DB2 prospect while one drill hole is proposed at DB1, with further drilling to take place only if the need arises.
“Next generation of undercover deposits”
Galileo managing director Brad Underwood said: “The Delta Blues Prospect is an exciting prospect with extremely conductive targets suggesting the presence of sulphide mineralisation.
“We are exploring for the next generation of undercover nickel deposits with no surface expression and the only way to check for metal content is by drilling.”
The drill rig is ready to be mobilised from Kalgoorlie, however, a start date has not been set due to labour shortages faced by the drilling contractor.
All other preparations have been completed and the contractor will advise the company when drilling can start.
Strong case for potential mineralisation
The company has made a strong case for potential mineralisation at the drill targets by implementing electromagnetic (EM) surveying, aircore drilling, magnetic modelling and gravity interpretation.
EM surveying technique is very effective in undercover exploration as massive nickel sulphide deposits exhibit a strong conductive signature.
However, conductive anomalies can also be caused by other sources including barren sulphides, sulphide-rich sediments and graphite-bearing rock units.
Ready to test modelled conductors
Underwood added: “Our shallow aircore drilling demonstrated that we have the right rock types in the area, and we are now ready to test the modelled conductors to determine whether they are related to nickel and copper.
“Subsurface conductors can have several sources and it is up to the drill rig to establish what we have in the ground.
“We look forward to getting on the ground and will update the market when drilling has commenced.”
Highly prospective geology
The current EM surveying is focused on a highly prospective zone along the strike of the Lantern East and Lantern South prospects.
Previous drilling at these prospects had identified mafic-ultramafic intrusions with disseminated and banded sulphides with 0.19% nickel and 0.14% copper intersected at 41 metres.
The company had assessed that although the metal content of the sulphides was not economical, the geology of the area is very prospective and any conductive anomaly that is detected will deliver a high priority drill target.
EM surveying is expected to continue through July with results available upon completion of fieldwork.
- Ephrems Joseph