Sirius Resources current drilling campaign has again expanded the Nova nickel copper deposit. A second hole drilled on the northernmost (800N) line, SFRD0065, has intersected sulphide mineralization including:
1. 13 meters of mainly massive sulphides from 406.2 meters and
2. 3.8 meters of stringer sulphides from 421.6 meters.
The hole is located 40 meters up dip from SFRD0059, the first hole drilled on this line, and extends the known sulphide mineralization to over 500 meters down plunge along the axis of the electromagnetic conductor.
Drilling to date has only tested the southern 500 meters of the 1,200 meter long Nova EM anomaly. At conductor 4, also known as Nova West the target depth has not yet been reached due to slow progress with reverse circulation drilling which is continuing.
Nova drilling update;
Diamond drilling is ongoing at Nova with rigs on the 650N, 700N and 800N lines. Induced polarization geophysical surveying is continuing over the entirety of the Eye and regional exploration over other targets is underway.
About the Nova nickel discovery;
1. The Nova deposit is a blind virgin discovery which vindicates Sirius’ exploration methodologies and corporate strategy of identifying high leverage Greenfields opportunities in stable jurisdictions.
2. It was discovered by Sirius’ target identification expertise and systematic use of geological, geophysical and geochemical exploration techniques.
3. Based on the size of the associated EM conductor 1 and its close association with the nickel and copper mineralization intersected to date, the Nova deposit could be a very large massive nickel and copper sulphide deposit. These deposits can be geometrically complex and our understanding of this will evolve with ongoing drilling and EM geophysics.
4. The EM conductor that represents the Nova deposit is the first of four EM targets at the Eye nickel and copper prospect to be tested. The others have not yet been drilled but modelling by Newexco Geophysical Consultants indicates that these also possess response characteristics indicative of massive sulphides.
5. The mineralization comprises pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite within very strongly metamorphosed rocks termed granulites. The sulphide minerals are high tenor and will likely produce a high value concentrate and the accompanying silicate minerals are likely to be highly amenable to conventional separation techniques.
6. The sulphides occur in a variety of styles typical of magmatic sulphide deposits. These include massive, matrix, net textured, breccia, blebby and disseminated sulphides.
7. The host rock is hypersthene augite garnet hornblende labradorite quartz gneiss interpreted to represent a strongly metamorphosed mafic ultramafic precursor of predominantly gabbroic composition.
8. The deposit is only 40 kilometers north of the Eyre Highway and closer, via sealed road to the port of Esperance than any operating nickel sulphide mine in Western Australia.
9. Planned metallurgical testwork will better quantify the mineralization in terms of its crushing, grinding and flotation characteristics, the deportment of nickel and copper within the sulphides and the level of any deleterious or penalty elements in such a concentrate.
Source - Proactive Investors
(www.steelguru.com)
