Zenith Minerals Limited announced further update on the Waratah Well Ni-Cu-PGE drill target 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
As previously announced (ASX Release 6-Sep-22) new Ni-Cu-PGE drill targets have been identified by Zenith’s technical team as part of a holistic approach to exploration on the Waratah Well project area (Figure 1). The targets are defined by a strong Ni-Cu-PGE surface soil anomaly with two EM bedrock conductors now modelled as drill targets. The host sequence is a large 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: “I’m pleased to provide an update on detailed modelling by our geophysical consultants NewGen Geo. Their work has resolved two bedrock EM conductors at Waratah Well that are worthy of drilling follow-up. The EM conductors occur within a layered mafic-ultramafic intrusion lying below a Ni-Cu-PGE surface soil geochemical anomaly. It is planned to drill test these Ni-Cu-PGE targets at the same time as the upcoming lithium drilling campaign at Waratah Well.”
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. The layered intrusion is host to lithium pegmatites that are the focus of exploration at Waratah Well (Figure 2).
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.
EDITOR’S COMMENTARY
“Zenith Minerals Limited has strategic nickel and copper minerals in Western Australia with some anomalies in an intrusive sequence that hosts lithium-rich pegmatites, which were found in an exploration campaign precisely for this mineral. These minerals are strategic in the battery industry and the electric cars that were corroborated by soil analysis that was originally done for lithium, the maximum values of copper still do not show interesting values to be economically exploitable, we will be waiting for a drilling program that gives more indications of this project”.
Figure 2: Waratah Well – Ni-Cu-PGE Drill Target and Lithium Prospect
Moving loop EM geophysical surveying was chosen as an appropriate tool to assess the geochemical anomaly area, for bedrock EM conductors, that may indicate subsurface accumulations of Ni-Cu sulphides (ASX Release 6-Sep-22). Final geophysical data processing and interpretation has now been completed defining two EM conductors (NE and SW) of interest that are likely of bedrock origin and worthy of drilling follow-up (Figures 3 and 4). The south dipping EM conductors are compatible with the shallow south dip of primary igneous layering within the mafic – ultramafic intrusive body.
The NE moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) anomaly has an estimated time constant of 28ms and is best modelled using two EM plates, namely a flat lying 155m x 75m plate at 75m depth with a conductance of 1,150 S underlain by a shallow south dipping 460m x 220m plate at 95m depth with a conductance of 1,350 S. The SW MLEM anomaly has an estimated time constant of 48ms and is also best modelled using two shallow SSE dipping EM plates, namely a 450m x 260m plate at 165m depth with a conductance of 1,100 S underlain by an 880m x 680m plate at 215m depth with a conductance of 820 S. Drill testing of the Ni-Cu-PGE target is scheduled for late 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 3: Waratah Well – Ni-Cu-PGE Drill Target (Modelled EM plates and proposed drill
holes over MLEM Total Field (ch26) image)
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 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/02584414.pdf
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