The Black Range Prospect is located 65km north-west of Kalgoorlie within the broader
IP chargeability anomalies can relate to zones of disseminated sulphides which may represent the outer halo around massive sulphide occurrences. The IP anomaly at
Ardea's Managing Director,
The recently defined IP anomaly at
Some of the most significant Ni-Cu-PGE discoveries including Nova (ASX: IGO) and Julimar (ASX: CHN) have been within Layered Mafic Complexes as they can have large scale potential. As such, the
Compelling sulphide target defined by new IP survey at
With oversight from the Company's geophysical consultants, Newexco, an induced polarisation (IP) geophysical survey has recently been completed on two north-south lines at
The chargeability anomaly lies in the middle of the ultramafic zone just below the interpreted position of the orthopyroxenite unit. The target may represent a mineralised conduit or lava pipe 'feeder structure' within the sill and hence could be off-set from the orthopyroxenite unit. The IP data on the western line is essentially quiet with a possible chargeability response at the limit of the depth penetration for the survey, 400 metres below surface. This is poorly defined and may also be an artefact of the noise within the survey. No further work is proposed here at this stage, but it will be kept in mind that the anomalous zone may be plunging to the west.
A review by Newexco, of historic moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) data (Heron Resources ASX release
To test the IP anomaly target, a 280 metre deep reverse circulation (RC) drill hole is proposed. This hole is designed to quickly and cost-effectively test the zone at depth. Once an RC rig has been secured, this compelling exploration target will be tested.
About the Black Range Prospect
The Black Range Prospect is located 65km north-west of Kalgoorlie and contains a 5 kilometre zone of the Ora Banda mafic/ultramafic sill enriched in nickel, cobalt, copper, scandium and PGE metals.
Ardea has defined a multifaceted laterite Mineral Resource1 at
The Ora Banda Sill is one of a number of differentiated mafic/ultramafic sills in the Archaean greenstone stratigraphy of the Kalgoorlie geological domain. It is the thickest of the sills in the area, reaching a maximum thickness of 2.8 kilometres.
It consists of a southerly facing sequence of basal ultramafic overlain by gabbro and topped with a thin coarsegrained granophyre. The ultramafic zone is made up of lower peridotite overlain by a distinctive orthopyroxenite unit with a sharp change to the upper gabbro zone. The ultramafic zones have a distinct magnetic-high signature contrasting with the magnetic-low of the gabbroic units. As with other layered intrusive systems the PGE mineralisation appears to be focussed within the orthopyroxenite unit.
A number of drilling campaigns have been completed over the Ora Banda Sill (most recent in 2017) which delineated a zoned distribution of nickel, cobalt, copper, scandium and PGE metals. High Ni-Cu-PGE zones include: 2
ABR0001/4-20m, 16m at 0.24% Ni, 0.11% Cu, 0.29g/t Pd, 0.38g/t Pt
ABR0016/2-18m, 16m at 0.45% Ni, 0.17% Cu, 0.15g/t Pd, 0.26g/t Pt
ABR0021/4-24m, 20m at 0.18% Ni, 0.09% Cu, 0.29g/t Pd, 0.36g/t Pt
This geochemical signature, particularly the high Cu and PGE values, is consistent with a sulphidic metal source and is quite different to the usual KNP nickel laterite geochemistry.
Comparable drilling results relating to the discovery of the Nova ore body included: SFRA0450, 7m at 0.49% Ni and 0.1% Cu from 72m and SFRA0457, 3m at 0.45% Ni and 0.1% Cu from 84m (refer
Background and Company Strategy
Ardea's focus continues to be the development of the
Additionally, Ardea's strategic tenure in the heart of the
It is important to note that any nickel sulphide discovery, as well as processing as a conventional sulphide flotation concentrate, has the potential to be processed through the High-Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) autoclave planned for Ardea's GNCP and has the added benefit of helping control autoclave oxidising potential and improving recoveries. As such, the nickel sulphide exploration strategy complements Ardea's nickel laterite development plans.
Contact:
Tel: +61 8 6244 5136
About
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Australian securities laws, which are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, without limitation, estimates, forecasts and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the timing and amount of funding required to execute the Company's exploration, development and business plans, capital and exploration expenditures, the effect on the Company of any changes to existing legislation or policy, government regulation of mining operations, the length of time required to obtain permits, certifications and approvals, the success of exploration, development and mining activities, the geology of the Company's properties, environmental risks, the availability of labour, the focus of the Company in the future, demand and market outlook for precious metals and the prices thereof, progress in development of mineral properties, the Company's ability to raise funding privately or on a public market in the future, the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as 'anticipate', 'believe', 'expect', 'intend', 'may' and similar expressions have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is given, and on information available to management at such time.
Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors, including, but not limited to, the ability to create and spin-out a gold focussed Company, fluctuations in currency markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, the ability of the Company to access sufficient capital on favourable terms or at all, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations, political or economic developments in
(C) 2021 Electronic News Publishing, source