Westar Resources Ltd (ASX:WSR) has identified six separate high priority conductors for base metals during geophysical studies at the Gidgee North Project in Western Australia.
The studies were conducted by Southern Geoscience Consultants (SGC) and PGN Geoscience (PGN) using SkyTEM data and as well as base metals, they have also indicated potential for gold.
A review of open-file SkyTEM data that covers only a portion of the large 215 square kilometres landholding at Gidgee North has identified six separate conductors, four of which were plate modelled.
Westar plans to undertake ground exploration work to refine drill targets in August with a maiden drill program set to take place in the second half of 2021.
“Compelling base metals opportunity”
Managing director Karl Jupp said the company believed in an evidence-based and data-driven approach to exploration and part of this involved wringing as much as possible from all of the available datasets.
“Whilst we continue to be a gold-focused explorer, the SkyTEM data has revealed a compelling base metals opportunity to assess conductors in the region along with developing our gold targets," he said.
“We’re looking forward to digesting the PGN litho-structural and geochemical review prior to some good old fashioned ‘boots on ground’ geology to rapidly progress all of the targets in this underexplored region of the Gum Creek greenstone belt.”
Depth below surface to the top of the plate is modelled to be within the top 30 metres with the largest plate 3.6 kilometres long and 80 metres thick.
Westar considers the SkyTEM anomolies are potentially analogous to Horizon Gold Ltd’s (ASX:HRN) Altair prospect from which 44 metres at 1.2% copper from 56 metres and 20 metres at 1.1% copper from 64 metres has been returned.
The copper prospect is interpreted to be volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) style mineralisation, with drilling in the 1990s by previous explorers intersecting broad zones of copper mineralisation.
Next on agenda
Westar has also engaged PGN Geoscience to complete a litho-structural interpretation and targeting study of the Gidgee North project using both Westar datasets and open-file data.
Results of this study have been recently received and will be reported on in due course.
The company intends to progress to ground truth several of the SkyTEM targets, including GN_E, via field mapping, rock-chip sampling and infill soil sampling.
Quotations will be sought to complete airborne EM over the remainder of the project as well as ground EM to better refine the existing targets prior to drilling planned for the second half of 2021.