NickelSearch Ltd has kicked off 2022 with a flying start through the completion of a high-resolution helicopter-borne time-domain electromagnetic (EM) and magnetic (Xcite™) survey covering the Carlingup Nickel Project area.
The Xcite™ system employed is a new generation of helicopter‐borne, time‐domain electromagnetic (HTDEM) system, developed by New Resolution Geophysics (NRG).
A total of 955 line kilometres was completed using line spacings of between 50 to 200 metres.
New pipeline of targets
NickelSearch chairman David Royle said: "We are very pleased to announce the completion of an airborne EM survey covering the total tenement package at the Carlingup Project so soon in the new year.
“When this new data is fully processed, modelled and integrated with our geological, magnetic and geochemical data sets, we will be able to generate an exciting new pipeline of targets to test.”
Prioritise targets more effectively
Modern time‐domain airborne EM systems like Xcite™ are not just anomaly hunters, they are also sophisticated 3D mapping tools and can map out alteration as well as important geological variations known to be critical for the formation of nickel deposits.
NRG Squirrel helicopter with electromagnetic system on site at Ravensthorpe.
NickelSearch intends to use this data to map the undercover geology more accurately and importantly add another critical layer to its multidisciplinary integrated exploration targeting process.
The aim is to prioritise targets more effectively for drill testing and thereby ensure the company maximises the value of its exploration expenditure by ‘drilling smarter’.
Next steps
Data processing, modelling and targeting studies are planned to commence in the first quarter of 2022, involving the integration of the new airborne EM data with geochemical fertility indices and high‐resolution magnetic data targeting possible 'main channel' mineralisation.