Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has completed its first deep RC drilling campaign at its Delta Blues prospect in WA’s Fraser Range with the mineralised strike expanded.
The company is focused on the exploration and development of nickel, copper, cobalt and palladium resources and has joint ventures (JVs) with the Creasy Group over tenements in the Fraser Range which are highly prospective for nickel-copper sulphide deposits similar to the operating Nova mine of IGO Ltd.
Owner of the Creasy Group, Mark Creasy was the man behind Sirius Resources, which discovered two giant nickel deposits and was purchased by Independence Group (now IGO) for $1.8 billion. Creasy owned 35% of Sirius and is the founder and major shareholder of GAL, with a 26% holding.
GAL also holds tenements near Norseman with more than 26,000 tonnes of contained cobalt and 122,000 tonnes of contained nickel in JORC-compliant resources.
Results expand mineralised strike
There are several takeaways from today’s announcement, with reverse circulation drilling successful to date.
GAL’s Delta Blues (DB2) target has intercepted more sulphides, expanding the mineralised strike length to a minimum 210 metres.
The scale of the mineralised system at DB2 is substantial with modelled conductor dimensions up to 500 by 500 metres. Only the very top of the conductor at DB2 has been drilled and deeper diamond drilling is required to determine economic potential of the prospect.
Further to this, initial RC drill testing is now completed at the DB1 target with drill hole DBRC004 touching only the very top of the EM model, which was calculated to start between 175 and 255 metres below surface.
GAL will undertake a deeper diamond drilling program to determine the conductive source.
Importantly, there have been no graphite or sulphidic sediment (false positives) in DBRC004 drill chips from the DB1 target.
Assays due in September
According to GAL managing director Bran Underwood, “It is very uncommon to come across sulphide mineralisation of the scale we see at the DB2 target. While the economic potential of the mineralisation will need to be further assessed, the results to date are highly encouraging for the prospectivity of our drill targets in the area.
“Initial RC drill testing of the DB1 target has been completed and was designed to intercept the very top of the EM model calculated to be between 175 and 255 metres below surface.
"The source of the conductive anomaly has yet to be explained and nickel prospective intrusive rocks were noted in the geology logs. Most importantly no sulphidic or graphitic sediments were recorded and the target remains strongly compelling due to its high modelled conductivity and geological setting.
“Our immediate focus for Delta Blues now moves to the assay results and the results of additional geophysical surveying which will help define the deeper targets for diamond drill testing.”
GAL has planned diamond drilling to assess the economic potential at DB1 and DB2 post receipt of RC drill sample assays and EM surveying.
Assays are expected in September and timing of diamond drilling is subject to rig availability.
Western Australia is currently affected by labour shortages, which has limited the ability of contractors to undertake Galileo’s drill programs.