Cathedrals Belt Interpreted As Mineralisation Conduit
Western Australian nickel company St George Mining Limited (ASX: SGQ) has identified a deep intrusive network it its ongoing drilling programme underway at its flagship high-grade nickel-copper sulphide Mt Alexander Project in Western Australia.
The company has reported that the first two deep holes completed in the current campaign have successfully intersected the Cathedrals Belt structure at depth.
Executive Chairman, John Prineas, said this structure is interpreted to be the conduit through which intrusive rocks and nickel- copper sulphide mineralisation has travelled from the Earth’s mantle to the surface.
The interpreted Cathedrals structure has been found to be present near surface and continuing in the down- dip direction for more than 800m. The first two holes, MAD180 and MAD182, have confirmed the continuity of the structure and intrusive geology at depth, opening up a large target horizon for potential nickel-copper sulphide deposits.
DHEM surveys are scheduled to be carried out in MAD180 and MAD182 this week, to search for conductive mineralisation around the current holes.
MAD179 was completed in June to test a broad surface SQUID MLEM (moving loop electromagnetic) anomaly. The hole was completed to a downhole depth of 351.9m and intersected xenolithic mafic intrusive rocks (interpreted anorthosite) between 300m to 311m.
The intrusive rocks intersected by MAD179 are typically part of the sequence of rocks that hosts nickel- copper sulphides in the Cathedrals Belt. This intersection supports the potential for the presence of further nickel-copper sulphides around the hole.
Significantly, the DHEM survey of MAD179 has detected two new strong off-hole EM anomalies at 325m downhole and located 10m and 40m, respectively, to the north-east of the hole.
These conductors are modelled with conductivity of 21,250 and 3,800 Siemens, and are consistent with the signature of nickel sulphide mineralisation.
Importantly, the new conductors are close to a number of other untested EM anomalies identified by previous EM surveys.
All EM conductors are located down-dip of the existing drilling, further supporting the potential for significant nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation in the area.
Drill testing of these conductors will be scheduled following completion of MAD181.
“Drilling at depth continues to intersect an extensive intrusive network that is the control on the high- grade nickel-copper sulphides at the Cathedrals Belt,” Mr Prineas said.
“These drill results are positive for the potential presence of further mineralisation in the Cathedrals Belt mineral system.
“The new conductors identified from the DHEM in MAD179 again shows the success that can come from systematic and methodical exploration. We are pleased with the strong progress made by the St George exploration team in better understanding the large and complex mineral system at Mt Alexander. “The drilling of exciting nickel-copper sulphide targets continues 24/7 with both diamond rigs at Mt Alexander operating on a double shift with two crews each.”
