Sights Visual Copper Occurrences In WA
Emu NL (ASX:EMU) has identified a significant aerial extent of surface copper oxide mineralisation at the Viper project, located near Jerramungup in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia.
The discovery was made during the company’s recently completed field component of the first-pass auger geochemistry sampling programme at the Viper project.
This auger survey represents the first systematic geochemical sampling programme conducted across the historic Netty Copper Mine and environs, and is targeting primary copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and platinum group element (PGE) mineralisation.
The mineralisation occurs as malachite (copper carbonate) associated with the host granite and intrusive mafic lithologies.
153 auger holes were completed along 400m spaced lines at 100m sample spacings. A number of interesting rock and chip samples were also collected. These samples will be subject to handheld XRF examination and multi-element assay laboratory assessment.
The auger soil sampling programme was undertaken by Sahara Operations (Australia) Pty Ltd (Sahara) utilising a 4WD mounted auger rig capable of drilling holes up to 30m in depth.
The wide-spaced auger geochemical programme was centred on the historic Netty Copper Mine, which reportedly produced more than three tonnes of contained copper from 30.5t of oxide and sulphide (chalcopyrite) ore. The auger sampling lines were completed over a 3.6km strike extension of the host Netty Proterozoic mafic dyke.
EMU’s programme represents the first modern-day systematic exploration programme conducted across the project.
The recent world class Julimar discovery by Chalice Gold Mines Limited has highlighted the previously unrecognised, undercover exploration potential of the South West Terrane of Western Australia for Ni-Cu-PGE mineralisation.
The first-pass auger programme at EMU’s Graceland project (Hyden) is well advanced with the rig expected to mobilise to the 8 Mile Dam project (Menzies) shortly.
EMU’s near-term priority at Viper will be to follow-up the auger geochemistry with infill geochemistry, mapping and geophysics which may lead to drill testing of significant targets.
The exploration programme will target primary copper and nickel mineralisation along strike and at depth, as directed by the resultant geochemical and geophysical surveys.
