NickelSearch Ltd (ASX:NIS) has confirmed the presence of visible semi-massive to massive nickel sulphide mineralisation less than 100 metre below the surface of the Carlingup Nickel Project in Western Australia.
Copper, cobalt, and platinum group elements (PGE) have also been detected within the reverse circulation (RC) drill cores, assumed to be by-product credits of the mineralised nickel formation.
Maiden drilling was undertaken across the RAV4- West and RAV5 deposits in December, producing four holes considered high priority for prospective assay results.
Assays of note from the RAV-5 deposit include:
- NIS014: 8 metres at 1.02% nickel, 0.55 g/t platinum, palladium and gold, 0.18% copper & 0.06% cobalt from 48 metres, including 5 metres at 1.39% nickel, 0.77 g/t platinum, palladium and gold, 0.25% copper & 0.07% cobalt from 50 metres; and
- NIS015: 3 metres at 1.33% nickel, 0.55 g/t platinum, palladium and gold, 0.19% copper & 0.07% cobalt from 80 metres, including 1-metre at 2.22% nickel, 0.76 g/t platinum, palladium and gold, 0.33% copper & 0.11% cobalt from 82 metres.
The two priority assays from RAV-4 West returned:
- NIS029: 10 metres at 0.67% nickel, 0.11 g/t platinum, palladium and gold, 0.04% copper & 0.03% cobalt from 32 metres, including 1-metre at 2.64% nickel, 0.67 g/t platinum, palladium and gold, 0.18% copper & 0.06% cobalt from 41 metres; and
- NIS032: 2 metres at 1.31% nickel, 0.44 g/t platinum, palladium and gold, 0.14% copper & 0.03% cobalt from 56 metres, including 1-metre at 1.79% nickel, 0.58 g/t platinum, palladium and gold, 0.20% copper & 0.04% cobalt from 56 metres.
Confident NIS can deliver growth
“Today’s assay results are encouraging as we continue the air ore drilling program and commence resource infill and extension drilling across Carlingup,” NickelSearch managing director Nicole Duncan said.
“We also have a diamond drill rig scheduled to arrive on site in mid-February to commence large diameter core drilling.
"In the week since joining the NickelSearch team as MD, I have focused on understanding our exploration and processing plans because we are active on a number of fronts.
“I am looking forward to applying my project management skills for the benefit of NickelSearch’s multiple work programs to progress Australia’s emerging battery minerals explorer.
“Together, we are an experienced team with a proven nickel exploration track record, coupled with a dominant land position in a highly prospective nickel belt.
“This is an excellent foundation for NickelSearch to deliver its growth potential. With a significant amount of work in the pipeline, I look forward to sharing the results with NIS shareholders.”
These results add further prospectivity to the project, following similarly promising results at the RAV-8 deposit announced back in December.
From here, NickelSearch intends to accelerate its exploration activity with aircore drilling, diamond drilling, geophysics – including down-hole electromagnetic or DHEM surveying – and geochemical work either underway or due to begin imminently across the portfolio.
About NickelSearch
Nickel Search is a dedicated Western Australian nickel sulphide explorer focused on advancing its flagship Carlingup Nickel Project.
The project has an existing resource base totalling 171,000 tonnes contained nickel and is strategically located adjacent to First Quantum Minerals (TSX:FQM)' Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation.