Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has strengthened the prospectivity of its Norseman Project in Western Australia with confirmation of nickel-copper-cobalt-palladium mineralisation in massive sulphides intersected during an extensive aircore drilling campaign.
Exploratory aircore drilling for a total of 8,000 metres has been completed to date at the project, testing a large total magnetic intensity (TMI) target identified over an extensive prospective contact zone, perpendicular to the Jimberlana Dyke.
Sulphides were intersected 60 metres downhole in a drill hole placed where the Dyke meets the ultramafic intrusive contact zone, returning acid digest test results of 1-metre at 0.24% nickel, 0.35% copper, 0.04% cobalt and 0.25 g/t palladium.
The aircore drilling was unable to break through the massive sulphide body, leaving the mineralisation open in all directions.
“Potential for further sulphides”
Galileo Mining managing director Brad Underwood said: “The first assays from our Norseman aircore drilling program show that we have intercepted magmatic sulphide mineralisation containing nickel, copper, cobalt and palladium metal.
“The mineralisation is at shallow depth and, due to the small aircore rig not drilling through the sulphide at the bottom of hole, is open in all directions.
“The sulphide occurs on the margin of a large ultramafic intrusion which can be traced along strike over several kilometres. This is the exact setting where mineral deposits can occur and at just over 50 metres below surface, the potential for further sulphides is exceptional.
“Approximately 8,000 metres of aircore drilling have been completed to date with the drill program expected to be concluded over the coming days. Samples have been submitted to the laboratory for assaying with the majority of results expected in January.
“Follow up work on the massive sulphide prospect will include EM surveying prior to RC drill testing planned for 2022.”
The sulphides noted at the bottom of the drill hole are priority samples, with the bulk of results from the current drill program expected to be returned sometime in January.
Galileo believes the shallowness of the massive sulphide intercept ‘significantly increases the prospectivity of Galileo’s project area’.
Follow up work will include electromagnetic (EM) surveying prior to a new round of drilling with a reverse circulation rig, which is more capable of breaking through hard rock using concussive force.
About Galileo Mining
Galileo Mining is focused on the exploration and development of nickel, copper and cobalt resources in Western Australia.
The company has joint ventures with Creasy Group over tenements in the Fraser Range which are highly prospective nickel-copper sulphide deposits similar to the operating Nova mine.
Galileo 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.