Legend Mining Limited announced an exploration activity update at the Rockford Project, Fraser Range, Western Australia. The aim of the seismic survey was to define the architecture of the Mawson intrusion in relation to the stratigraphic package, to a depth of investigation of a minimum 1,000m below surface across a 6.5km2 area. The 3D seismic data supports the exploration model at Mawson, that a large intrusive source continues at depth below drilling completed to date.

3D seismic reflectors clearly map the mineralised chonolith in drilled areas down to 500m below surface, with the chonolith interpreted to extend below 500m, below the Mawson fault, to a possible keel position at 800m to 1,000m. This interpreted keel position is defined by a complex set of reflectors and structural breaks, consistent with the seismic signature of the Mawson discovery zone. RKDD081 was the first diamond drillhole to interrogate the interpreted keel below the Mawson fault.

Drilling conditions encountered resulted in slower than anticipated drilling rates and a swing in the hole trace, with rotation, away from planned trajectory. The drillhole largely intersected intrusive suites and metasedimentary packages where predicted. The lower zone of the target zone intersected various mafic intrusive suites, including a heavily disseminated gabbronorite intrusion at 840m downhole.

Early interpretation of the intrusive suite intersected in RKDD081 suggests the drillhole has tested an area marginal to the main chonolith. Further data analysis and additional drilling will aid in refinement of the initial interpretation. Assay results are pending.

DHTEM has been completed on RKDD081 with results inconclusive. The FLTEM D8 conductor was unable to be reconciled with DHTEM data from RKDD081. The very complex nature of the EM environment at Mawson has made deciphering conductive sulphide bodies difficult, due to the blinding effects of the large stratigraphic D5 conductor in this location.

Petrophysical property measurements have been undertaken with hand-held and downhole instrumentation, with results pending. RKDD082 and RKDD082W1 diamond drillholes were designed to interrogate an area of seismic signature interpreted to be a continuation of prospective chonolith below existing drilling, separated by a metasedimentary raft. Difficult drilling conditions again resulted in slower than anticipated production.

In addition, the RKDD082 drill trace swung significantly off target. RKDD082W1 was drilled as a wedge off RKDD082 at 347.4m. Following the wedge off the parent drillhole, an additional six navigational cuts were made to keep the drillhole trace along the proposed target drill trace.

The drillhole intersected a largely prospective intrusive package below existing drilling levels, confirming the Mawson chonolith extends at depth as predicted. The lower zone of RKDD082W1 encountered a structural change where a sub-vertical metasedimentary package was intersected. The hole was terminated prematurely at 993m due to the drill rods becoming stuck in broken ground.

Preliminary structural analysis and geological logging suggest a change in intrusion geometry, with the chonolith further west. This working model will be evolved with additional data from RKDD082W1 and future drill testing. Assay results, DHTEM, and petrophysical property measurements are pending at time of writing.

The third diamond drillhole, RKDD083 is underway at time of writing The drillhole is designed to intersect a seismic signature replication of that identified at the Mawson massive Ni-Cu sulphide discovery zone, offset by the Mawson fault.