New nickel-copper-platinum group element (Ni-Cu-PGE) drill target Coincident Ni-Cu PGE surface soil anomaly Ground electro-magnetic (EM) geophysical survey defined bedrock conductors Layered ultramafic-mafic intrusive host rocks Drill testing scheduled for late September – early October 2022 Zenith Minerals Limited announced that it has defined a new Ni Cu-PGE drill target within the Waratah Well project in Western Australia. The project is part of the Zenith Lithium Joint Venture with EV Metals Group.
Robust Ni-Cu-PGE Target Defined During Lithium Exploration Program A new Ni-Cu-PGE drill target has been identified by Zenith’s technical team as part of a holistic approach to exploration on the Waratah Well project area (Figure 1). The target is defined by a strong Ni-Cu-PGE surface soil anomaly with coincident EM bedrock conductors, hosted within a mafic-ultramafic intrusion. The intrusion is also the host to lithium rich pegmatites that are the focus of exploration at Waratah Well. Zenith’s Managing Director Michael Clifford said: “We are very pleased to provide initial details of a new Ni-Cu-PGE drill target within the Waratah Well project area. This robust NiCu-PGE drill target has evolved from the recognition that the host rocks of lithium pegmatites at our Waratah Well project are equally prospective for Ni-Cu-PGE’s.
Geochemical screening with subsequent EM geophysical follow-up has resulted in the definition of bedrock EM conductors that are now permitted for drill testing. The Ni-Cu-PGE target fits within our strategy of battery minerals leveraged to the increasing global demand for metals critical to the production processes of new energy industrial sectors.” The Waratah Well Project is located approximately 20km northwest of the regional town of Yalgoo in the Murchison Region of Western Australia and is being explored as part of the Zenith Lithium Joint Venture with EV Metals Group (ASX Release 13-Jan-22). Ni and Cu form part of the battery minerals suite that are included in the joint venture, with PGE’s being retained 100% by Zenith.The Waratah Well project area lies immediately adjacent to the West Yilgarn Ni-Cu-PGE province that is host to Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX:CHN) Gonneville PGE-Ni-Cu-Co-PGE deposit (Figure 1)
Figure 1: Waratah Well Project Area with Respect to the West Yilgarn Ni-Cu-PGE Province At Waratah Well a layered mafic – ultramafic intrusive (comprising leucogabbro-norite grading into gabbronorite, anorthosite and leuconorite as well gabbro and minor pyroxenite, basalt and ultramafic schists) crops out over an area approximately 10km x 4.5km, extending under alluvial cover to the northeast and southwest. Primary igneous layering in the prospect area dips shallowly to the south. Soil geochemical samples, originally collected for lithium exploration, were re-analysed for Ni-Cu and PGE’s. This work defined a strong soil geochemical anomaly at the western end of the mafic-ultramafic intrusive outcrop, before being obscured to the west by alluvium cover. The anomaly has broad Ni anomalism (>100ppm Ni) extending over an area 1km x 0.5km with a peak value of 186ppm Ni. The Cu anomaly extends over an area 1km x 0.25km (>100ppm Cu) peak value 290 ppm Cu, whilst PGE anomaly is 1km x 0.1 to 0.2km in width defined by the >50ppb Pt+Pd with a 112ppb Pt+Pd peak.
Moving loop EM geophysical surveying was chosen as an appropriate tool to assess the area of the geochemical anomaly for bedrock EM conductors that may indicate subsurface accumulations of Ni-Cu sulphides. Surveying has recently been completed, identifying a strong shallow south dipping conductive response in the preliminary data (Figure 2) that is coincident with the Ni-Cu-PGE geochemical anomaly. Final geophysical data processing and interpretation will be completed prior to drilling. Drill testing of the Ni-Cu-PGE target is scheduled for late September – early October this year along with deeper RC drilling to follow-up the thick lithium pegmatites detailed in the Company’s ASX Release dated 6-Jul-22.
Figure 2: Waratah Well – Ni-Cu-PGE Drill Target
Competent Persons Statement The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results and Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by Mr Michael Clifford, who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and an employee of Zenith Minerals Limited. Mr Clifford has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Mr Clifford consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Material ASX Releases Previously Released The Company has released all material information that relates to Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Reserves, Economic Studies and Production for the Company’s Image of measured total EM field response for channel 26 (22.8 mSec), illuminated from the NW, linear colour stretch. Projects on a continuous basis to the ASX and in compliance with JORC 2012. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information that materially affects the content of this ASX release and that the material assumptions and technical parameters remain unchanged.
(Source: Press Releases – www.wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ZNC/02564440.pdf)
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