Chalice Mining Limited (ASX: CHN) has hit promising new intersections in reconnaissance drilling in exploration activities at its 100%-owned Julimar Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Element (PGE) Project, located ~70km north-east of Perth in Western Australia.
Exploration activities are continuing across the >30km long Julimar Complex, with two diamond drill rigs currently drilling across the ~10km long Hartog-Baudin strike length and four rigs continuing resource drilling at the Gonneville PGE-Ni-Cu-Co-Au Deposit – current Mineral Resource Estimate (Resource) of 350Mt @ 0.96g/t 3E, 0.16% Ni, 0.10% Cu, 0.015% Co (~0.58% NiEq or ~1.8g/t PdEq).
Reconnaissance drilling has intersected sulphide mineralisation in all holes drilled into the Julimar Complex to date over a strike length of ~10km. Several wide-spaced holes drilled at the Hooley Prospect, located ~5km north of Gonneville, have intersected PGE-dominant sulphide mineralisation, which is considered a highly encouraging early result.
The host intrusion at Hooley has similar mafic to ultramafic geology and litho-geochemistry to Gonneville and, on this basis, it is inferred to be a continuation of the ‘chonolith’-like Julimar Complex.
Wide-spaced reconnaissance and step-out drilling is continuing at the Hartog, Hooley and Dampier Prospects over a strike length of ~10km. Several large (~5km) sections of the Julimar Complex strike length remain untested between these areas.
Drilling to date supports the interpretation of the Gonneville Intrusion (and the broader Julimar Complex) as having a rare chonolith-like geometry, which is similar to other major ultramafic-mafic orthomagmatic systems worldwide that host some of the world’s largest nickel-copper+/-PGE deposits, including Norilsk-Talnakh and Jinchuan.
Chalice’s strategy at Julimar is to advance development studies and regulatory approvals for a potential mine at Gonneville (on Chalice-owned farmland), in parallel with ongoing exploration activities across the full >30km extent of the Julimar Complex.
Exploration will continue along the Complex targeting extensions to known mineralised zones as well as potential new shallow high-grade zones. It is also possible that different styles of mineralisation (or higher-grade mineralisation) could be intersected along the complex, potentially contributing to the significant long-term value-creation that a world-class mineral district can create.
Chalice’s ongoing exploration drilling programme in the Julimar State Forest is utilising specialist diamond drill rigs with a small footprint and does not involve any mechanised clearing of vegetation or excavation.
Comprehensive flora, fauna and cultural heritage surveys and monitoring are being undertaken according to industry best practice. The low-impact exploration program is strictly governed by a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) approved by the WA Government in late 2021.
Hooley drilling
Reconnaissance exploration drilling along the Julimar Complex has intersected significant PGE- nickel-copper-cobalt-gold mineralisation at the Hooley Prospect, located ~5km to the north of the Gonneville Deposit.
Drill holes HD052, HD054 and HD055 were drilled from the same site, while HD050 was drilled along strike from a site ~500m to the north-east. HD047 was drilled from a site ~1.8km along strike of HD055 to the north-east.
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