Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX, OTCQX:BLSTF, FRA:B9S) will collaborate with the Vietnamese Government to identify new nickel opportunities outside of the company’s Ta Khoa nickel-copper-PGE district tenement holdings in the country's north.
The company’s 90%-owned subsidiary Ban Phuc Nickel Mines (BPNM) will work with the General Department of Geology & Minerals of Vietnam (GDGMV), initially conducting new geophysics exploration to advance the Chim Van target, a highly prospective nickel target, 10 kilometres from the company’s large Ban Phuc open-pit deposit.
Promisingly, preliminary geophysical, geological and geochemical interpretation suggests the presence of an extensive mafic-ultramafic dyke swarm adjacent to the Chim Van magnetic anomaly of similar style to the nearby Ban Phuc – Ban Chang, Ban Khoa – King Snake and Ta Cuong intrusive centres.
“Leverage current development plans"
Electro Magnetic plan view of Ta Khoa district and adjacent Chim Van target
Blackstone managing director Scott Williamson said: “Blackstone is delighted to be working closely with the GDGMV to define the geological potential of the Chim Van target.
“The Chim Van target is located in close proximity to the existing Ta Khoa footprint and would leverage the company’s current development plans, which includes the construction of a large concentrator adjacent to the significant existing mineral resource at Ban Phuc.”
“The development of the Ta Khoa Downstream Refinery will be underpinned by Blackstone’s strategy to secure supply”
Chim Van joint exploration exercise
Highlights of the Chim Van joint exploration exercise include:
- BPNM to cooperate with GDGMV on the exploration of the highly prospective Chim Van project;
- BPNM to provide technical expertise and equipment to support GDGMV’s effort at demonstrating the prospectivity of the target;
- Following work completed by GDGMV, BPNM intends to apply for an exploration license over the project.
- The project is located about 10 kilometres from the Ban Phuc Nickel Mine; and
- Chim Van features a large magnetic anomaly which may reflect the presence of an ultramafic-mafic intrusion an order of magnitude larger than the Ban Phuc ultramafic intrusion.
. Chim Van magnetic anomaly juxtaposed against the Ban Phuc Deposit (Long section projection – to scale)
Historical geological mapping and sampling indicate the presence of nickel and copper mineralised mafic-ultramafic dykes in the Chim Van area with gossan samples returning up to 1.13% nickel and 0.37% copper.
“Example of growth opportunities”
Williamson adds: “The Chim Van target, albeit in the early phases of discovery, is an example of the growth opportunities in and around the Ta Khoa district, and in Northern Vietnam more broadly that the company is working on diligently to secure.
“We look forward to future cooperation with the GDGMV and updating our shareholders of the outcomes of our initial exploration programs in due course.”
About Blackstone
Ta Khoa Project snapshot.
Blackstone Minerals is developing the district-scale Ta Khoa Project where the company has a maiden resource and scoping study for the large-scale Ban Phuc Nickel-PGE deposit.
Ongoing programs for the previously operating nickel sulphide project include the investigation of downstream battery metals processing options in Vietnam.