Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has intersected anomalous nickel, cobalt and platinum group element (PGE) mineralisation in the first pass of aircore drilling at Jimberlana and Mission Sill prospects of the Norseman Project in Western Australia.
GAL received results from three distinct areas of mineralisation within drill hole NAC126 – which was drilled at the meeting point between the Jimberlana Dyke and the Mission Sill intrusion – beginning with high-grade nickel and cobalt results:
- 4 metres at 1.66% nickel, 0.16% cobalt and 0.31 g/t 2E (palladium + platinum) from 32 metres within a wider zone of 8 metres at 1.21% nickel, 0.15% cobalt and 0.26 g/t 2E (palladium + platinum) from 32 metres.
The second zone of mineralisation within NAC126 included elevated levels of gold and 2E PGE:
- 4 metres at 0.90% nickel, 0.18% cobalt, 0.39 g/t gold and 0.23 g/t 2E (palladium + platinum) from 52 metres within 8 metres at 0.87% nickel, 0.14% cobalt and 0.32 g/t gold and 0.16 g/t 2E (palladium + platinum) from 52 metres.
While the third zone included some wide intersections of highly anomalous platinum and palladium elements:
- 32 metres at 0.30 g/t 2E, 0.54% nickel and 0.03% copper from 12 metres; and
- 36 metres at 0.27 g/t 2E, 0.17% nickel and 0.02% copper from surface.
Results reinforce prospectivity of area
“Obtaining results of up to 1.66% nickel and 0.16% cobalt in first pass aircore drilling from the Jimberlana prospect is a fantastic outcome,” Galileo Mining managing director Brad Underwood said.
“We already know that the area has potential by the massive sulphides intercepted in NAC105 which is underlain by large and highly conductive EM (electromagnetic) targets.
“The latest results add further weight to the area’s prospectivity and occur on the margin of the Jimberlana Dyke where it interacts with Mission Sill – an excellent location for the development of mineralisation and an area we have been targeting for some time.
“High nickel and cobalt assays, combined with elevated levels of precious metals (gold, palladium & platinum), suggest that the results may be related to basement mineralisation beneath and adjacent to the aircore drill holes.
“We will now undertake detailed geophysical surveys looking to define the best positions for further drill testing as we continue to explore this amazing opportunity so close to developed infrastructure and existing mines.”
Platinum and palladium drill results now extend over nine kilometres of strike length along the well-defined geological trend of the Mission Sill:
Galileo’s next steps will involve geophysical surveys and reverse circulation (RC) drilling to follow-up around and below nickel, cobalt, palladium, and platinum drill intercepts at Norseman.
About Galileo Mining
Galileo Mining is focused on the exploration and development of nickel, palladium, 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.