Junior nickel explorer St George Mining has identified a strong off-hole conductor through down hole electromagnetic surveying nearby another at its Mt Alexander nickel-copper project in WA that it believes may be a potential 70-metre-long conductive horizon. The company says the off-hole conductivity readings are interpreted to be consistent with massive nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation.
The strong off-hole conductor lit up like a Christmas tree with a stellar 76,000 siemens conductivity at the West End prospect within the Mt Alexander project with another new conductor located down-dip to the northwest pointing to the potential of extended mineralisation at the prospect.
Several other electromagnetic conductors were also identified at West End that the company says supports the case for a greater volume of mineralisation to be present along strike or down-dip.
Whilst conductor readings are lighting up all over the Mt Alexander project, a drill rig has currently clocked up 272m of a planned 660m deep hole bearing down on a seismic target.
The target, known as S2, is in the crosshairs of the company’s drill rigs and commences approximately 350m below surface. It has a dip extent of 400m with the current drillhole designed to hit pay dirt approximately 550m downhole.
S2 is situated in the underexplored Transits Belt structure just to the north of St George’s nickel-endowed Cathedrals Belt prospect. Notably, previous shallow drilling by the company intercepted ultramafic rocks highlighting the potential for S2 to host mineralisation at depth.
According to the company, Transits Belt shows geological similarities to Cathedrals Belt.
Whilst finding mineralisation is the key goal in any operation, environmental approvals are also a vital step towards converting any exploration operation into a mine. According to the company, multiple positive findings from a recent detailed flora and vegetation survey at Mt Alexander show no flora issues that would cause any roadblocks to mining activities taking place.
The surveys were undertaken over two field seasons and meet the requirements of an impact assessment to support future mining proposals at Mt Alexander.
The project is located 120 kilometres south-southwest of the Agnew-Wiluna Belt that hosts multiple world-class nickel deposits.
JSt George Mining’s Executive Chairman, John Prineas,said: “Our exploration initiatives continue to identify quality targets for deeper deposits of the mineralisation that is so unique at Mt Alexander – a combination of high-grade nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group metals that is simply not seen anywhere else in Australia.”
“We are excited to be drilling our first set of seismic targets – including S2 which is underway – and keenly await the results of this campaign. Our intrusive-style mineralisation is hosted in the structures that have been clearly mapped by our initial seismic survey. The new information gained through drilling is therefore a great advance in targeting that could provide an exploration breakthrough.”
“We are also prioritising testing of our EM targets, where we have enjoyed a 100 per cent success rate with all conductors drilled confirmed as nickel-copper sulphides. The latest conductor from MAD204 is a compelling target and has the potential to be part of a larger and open mineralised horizon.”
St George has already delivered multiple nickel-copper hits at Mt Alexander and now has the drill bit set on a compelling new target with plenty of future work generated on the back of recent off-hole electromagnetic conductor surveying.
The Perth-based explorer could be in for a compelling new phase of exploration if its hunt for deeper nickel-copper sulphides at Mt Alexander hits a bullseye.
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By Matt Birney
