Terra Metals (ASX: TM1) has intercepted multiple reefs and magmatic sulfides in reverse circulation drilling at the Southwest prospect’s SW1 target within the company’s Dante multi-metal project in Western Australia.
Assays from the first three holes confirmed new near-surface Bushveld-style reef layers containing iron-titanium-vanadium-copper-platinum group elements (PGE) mineralisation, together with a newly-identified magmatic copper-nickel-PGE-cobalt sulfide zone.
The sulfides occur consistent with immiscible melt segregation—a process documented in large, layered intrusions including the Sudbury Igneous Complex in Canada, known as one of the world’s most productive nickel-copper-PGE districts.
Best intercepts were 21 metres at 0.72% copper equivalent (CuEq) from up to 84m, including 5m at 1.01% CuEq from up to 79m; 21m at 0.67% CuEq from up to 154m, including 4m at 0.84% CuEq; and 35m at 0.65% CuEq from up to 101m, including 2m at 1.13% CuEq from up to 88m.
Expanded Sulfide Footprint
Terra said the results build on earlier SW1 sulfide intercepts, expanding the footprint of the sulfide-bearing system and reinforcing the presence of multiple stacked mineralised layers close to surface.
Located approximately 5 kilometres west of the Dante mineral resource estimate, SW1 is one of six high-priority targets across the 12 sq km Southwest prospect.
It represents the third distinct sulfide style the company has intersected during the first three weeks of drilling at Southwest.
Assay results remain pending for the visual sulfides ++reported in late October++ from diamond drilling at the SW1, SW5, and SW6 prospects.
Scale and Diversity
Terra managing director Thomas Line said the latest results demonstrate the scale and diversity of mineralisation across the Dante project.
“The associations we are seeing — elevated magnesium oxide and chromium values with nickel-copper-PGE enrichment and net-textured to semi-massive sulfides at the bases of mafic cycles — suggest we may be sampling a more dynamic part of the magmatic plumbing system,” he said.
“The multiple new and thick Bushveld-style oxide reefs discovered in the same zone highlight an extensive system of multiple stacked mineralised layers from near surface to depth.”
He said more recent holes at the three targets contained stronger visual sulfides and reinforced the substantial tonnage potential across the broader Southwest area.
