Caspin Resources Ltd (ASX:CPN) has progressed its understanding of mineralisation beneath the Yarabrook Hill prospect of the Yarawindah Brook Project in Western Australia with multiple phases of drilling, defining several new platinum group elements (PGE)-nickel-copper targets to be assessed for prospectivity.
Drilling has now demonstrated a 3,000-metre-plus potential strike length for the ultramafic feature of Yarabrook Hill, with more than 1,500 metres of down-dip potential beneath the mineralised body.
New prospective targets
Combined results from the first phase of drilling (with completed assays) and visual assessment of drill core from the second phase of reverse circulation (RC) drilling have outlined three conceptual targets to be explored further.
Assay results from the second phase of drilling (a 16-hole program) are still pending.
Higher-grade segments within main mineralised zone
This target is a localised segment within an extensive and continuous sulphide-mineralised zone, with higher sulphide content and/or mineralisation grade.
Caspin expects that segments that were originally in a flatter orientation will be more strongly mineralised, though there has been little opportunity to test this target as the area has not been effectively drilled yet.
Within the broad zone of mineralisation at Yarabrook Hill, several narrower, higher-grade zones have been intersected. Results include 2 metres at 0.58 g/t platinum-palladium-gold, 0.37% nickel, 0.57% copper and 3 metres at 0.85 g/t platinum-palladium-gold, 0.16% nickel, 0.09% copper.
Caspin says that if continuity of these zones can be demonstrated with closer spaced drilling in future drill programs, they may possibly represent an economic exploration target.
In holes drilled so far, Caspin has not observed structural contact between the hanging wall of mineralisation and a primary igneous basal contact.
Basal contact positions within mineralised intrusions are commonly where massive sulphide mineralisation occurs.
Therefore, any positions where a primary contact may be observed below the hanging wall shear zone are a very important conceptual target for the company.
Deep penetrating ground-electromagnetic (EM) surveying is likely to be the best method to help target such a position.
XC-22 prospect
Drilling at the XC-22 prospect intersected further nickel-copper sulphides with mineralisation open in all directions.
Read: Caspin Resources hits nickel and copper sulphides during Yarabrook drilling
Due to difficult drilling conditions, three holes (YARC0024, YARC0025 and YARC0027) were unable to reach their target depth and therefore the down-dip position from YARC0022 is yet to be tested.
Caspin believes the geology of YARC0027 is particularly encouraging, as it intersects a peridotite unit generally associated with stronger mineralisation at Yarabrook Hill.
The unfinished RC holes will be further explored with diamond drilled ‘tails’ to collect deeper samples and more thoroughly assess the geology of the prospect.
Upcoming programs
Drilling will resume in February this year, testing the Northwest geochemical anomaly with RC drilling as a priority, while assay data from XC-22 and Yarabrook Hill is returned and interpreted.
A ground-based electromagnetic survey and an expanded soil geochemistry exploration program will be used to assist drilling and complement recently acquired gravity and airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey datasets.
This work will be ongoing over the coming months as access to new farmland becomes available.
About Caspin Resources
Caspin Resources is a mineral exploration company based in Western Australia and focused on the Yarawindah Brook Project and the Mount Squires Project.
At Yarawindah Brook, north of Perth, Caspin is exploring Australia’s newest nickel-copper-PGE province, advancing exploration on multiple fronts using soil geochemistry and airborne EM in search of new sulphide deposits.
At Mount Squires, Caspin has identified a 50-kilometre structural corridor with gold mineralisation.