Jindalee Resources Ltd (ASX:JRL) has progressed nickel sulphide targets at its 100% owned Widgiemooltha Project in WA’s Eastern Goldfields.
The explorer has generated five priority targets by applying its Kambalda nickel sulphide ore deposit model to the property.
Soil sampling across the target areas is expected to kick off next month, with drill testing planned for the second half of the year.
Target generation
Assisted by a highly regarded komatiite nickel sulphide exploration specialist, Jindalee has completed historic data compilation and a geological interpretation.
The company is focused on identifying nickel mineralisation and the presence of basal ultramafic stratigraphy that is a vital component of the Kambalda nickel sulphide ore deposit model.
The technical work to date has identified numerous occurrences of the prospective basal ultramafic stratigraphy and anomalous nickel results from historic drilling within the Widgiemooltha Project tenement package.
The five priority targets are:
Dordie Far West
Dordie Far West is located on the northwest margin of the Widgiemooltha Dome.
Nickel mineralisation at the prospect was unearthed by Mincor Resources Ltd’s drilling in the late 2000s.
Historical drill hits at Dordie include:
- 8 metres at 1.3% nickel from 26 metres downhole;
- 2 metres at 1.7% from 12 metres downhole;
- 2 metres at 1.9% from 26 metres downhole;
- 4 metres at 1.2% from 46 metres downhole;
- 2 metres at 1.1% from 22 metres downhole;
- 2 metres at 1.4% from 28 metres downhole; and
- 4 metres at 1.4 % from 36 metres downhole.
Railway
When it set out for drilling at the Dordie target, Mincor Resources also completed work at the Railway prospect.
Historical drilling has confirmed prospective basal ultramafic stratigraphy at the target, and Jindalee’s geological interpretation has identified further opportunities to drill test for nickel sulphide mineralisation.
Croser
Nickel mineralisation at Croser was identified during gold exploration in the 1990s.
In the past, aircore drilling returned two significant nickel results within ultramafic stratigraphy.
The anomalous nickel results and their position in relation to an interpreted trough structure justify further nickel exploration efforts.
Democrat
The Democrat target is associated with a prominent magnetic feature.
Jindalee took samples across the magnetic feature and acquired multi-element geochemistry and mineralogy from XRD analysis.
While no anomalous nickel results were confirmed from the sampling work, the geochemistry returned magnesium oxide values consistent with fertile basal ultramafic and mineralogy confirmed ultramafic dominated by antigorite.
Together the acquired geochemistry and mineralogy indicate that the prominent magnetic feature is probably a significant trough system, that is roughly 900 metres wide and 100 metres thick with the potential to host significant nickel sulphide mineralisation.
Pioneer Dome West
Pioneer Dome West is a broad target area on the western side of the Pioneer Dome on tenement E15/1721.
The immediate area has been subject to significant gold exploration and Jindalee has identified an opportunity to test the ultramafic stratigraphy for nickel sulphide mineralisation.
The primary focus is a series of prominent magnetic features along the western margin of the Pioneer Dome that appear broadly similar to magnetic features on either side of the Widgiemooltha Dome, which are known to host significant nickel mineralisation.
Next steps
Jindalee has commissioned a soil sampling survey across the five target areas with sampling to commence in the current quarter.
Jindalee expects to prioritise drilling at each of the five target areas once the soil sampling results have been compiled, with drilling to commence in the second half of 2022.