Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has intersected mineralised sulphides in all six reverse circulation (RC) holes drilled at Mine Lease prospect of the Norseman Project in WA, confirming the presence of nickel and copper with portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses.
The RC program was designed to follow-up a previously reported shallow sulphide intercept of 27 metres at 0.58 g/t palladium, 0.12 g/t platinum, 0.18% nickel and 0.13% copper, which included 2 metres at 1.1 g/t palladium, 0.19 g/t platinum, 0.26% nickel and 0.23% copper.
Galileo has observed that the drilled thickness of the Mining Lease sulphide zone is increasing as it trends toward the east, with previous drill holes MTRC086 and MTRC096 demonstrating a positive relationship between increasing sulphide widths and higher copper and palladium grades.
“Prospect open in all directions”
“We continue to receive highly encouraging results from our Norseman project with disseminated nickel-copper sulphides intersected in every drill hole undertaken at our Mine Lease prospect,” Galileo Mining managing director Brad Underwood said.
“Previous drilling hit nickel-copper-palladium and, with sulphide concentrations increasing in the current drilling, we are hoping for improved grades when the assays are returned from the laboratory.
“We cannot tell from visual observation whether the sulphide contains palladium, platinum or gold and it is up to the laboratory to determine whether we are close to an economic discovery.
“The Mine Lease prospect is open in all directions, however, the sulphides appear to be increasing towards the east. This will be the area of immediate focus with a 2,000 metre follow up RC drill program planned to begin once pending assays are returned and drill sites have been finalised.
“The first round of RC drilling at the Jimberlana and Mission Sill prospects has also been completed. Four RC holes were drilled adjacent to previous aircore drilling with site locations constrained by existing tracks.
“Sulphides were logged in three of the four drill holes and a lot of further work is required at these prospects.
“We look forward to updating the market with drill assays and will be liaising with the laboratory to expedite the delivery of results.”
Drill hole NRC266, which contained more than 40 metres of disseminated sulphides, has been prioritised for laboratory analysis and results are expected in about three weeks, while the rest of the assays are expected to have about an eight-week turnaround.
The next round of follow-up drilling will begin once Galileo has received the assay data and can better target its exploration.