Initial Reconnaissance Activities To Commence In Coming Weeks
Chalice Mining Limited (ASX: CHN) has received a key access approval to additional exploration areas at its 100%-owned Julimar Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Element (PGE) Project, located ~70km north-east of Perth in Western Australia.
The Minister for Environment has provided agreement (concurrence) to consent to initial non-ground disturbing activities within the Julimar State Forest on granted Exploration Licence E70/5119, under the approved Stage 1 Conservation Management Plan (CMP). This approval paves the way for the first ever Ni-Cu-PGE exploration activities within the State Forest.
Exploration activities will have negligible impact on vegetation, fauna or recreational activities within the area, and will be governed by the approved CMP.
Chalice completed the first-ever airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey over this area in September 2020, which identified several large-scale EM anomalies (Hartog, Baudin and Jansz) located directly along strike from the Company’s world-class Gonneville PGE-Ni-Cu-Co-Au discovery.
All three targets represent high quality greenfield discovery opportunities over ~20km of strike length across the interpreted Julimar layered mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex. The Hartog anomaly is the highest priority target, given its similar EM signature to the Gonneville discovery.
Exploration activities will initially comprise prospect-scale soil geochemical sampling (200m x 100m) in conjunction with 200m-spaced Moving Loop EM (MLEM) and ground gravity surveys (200m x 50m) centred over the Hartog, Baudin and Jansz AEM anomalies. This will be followed by infill soil geochemical sampling and MLEM to define targets for drill testing.
The entire ~20km x ~3km exploration corridor along the interpreted Julimar Complex will also be subject to first-pass exploration including wide-spaced soil geochemistry and ground gravity surveying and/or MLEM. Any additional areas of interest will be infilled to define potential targets for future drill testing.
Managing Director, Alex Dorsch, said initial exploration activities within the Julimar State Forest will commence in the coming weeks and are anticipated to be completed in Q1 2021. This work will be undertaken concurrently with the ongoing six-rig resource definition drilling program at the Gonneville discovery, located on private farmland.
“This access approval has been eagerly anticipated and is highly significant, as it allows us to finally start to understand the true scale of the Julimar discovery,” Mr Dorsch said.
“The targets to the north of the world-class Gonneville discovery have the potential to add material value to the project and we are incredibly excited to be the first on the ground.
“The strength and scale of the EM target at Hartog has drawn significant interest and we believe it could represent a different section of the intrusive complex which may be prospective for new styles of nickel- copper-PGE mineralisation. It should also be noted that the lack of an airborne EM response in other areas does not preclude the presence of mineralisation, as evidenced by our drilling at Gonneville.
“The planned initial reconnaissance activities aim to define drill-ready targets, which will then form the basis of a second stage approval process for drill testing. Drilling will ultimately determine if Julimar is a new multi- discovery mineral district.
“We are pleased to be working together with the various state government departments and agencies to facilitate the first ever ground-based Ni-Cu-PGE exploration programs in the State Forest. Chalice appreciates the conservation values of the area and takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. We intend to test the area as quickly as possible with minimal impact according to the approved CMP, and eagerly anticipate the first results.”
