Dundas Minerals commences infill survey at North-East nickel-copper prospect
Dundas Minerals anticipates assays from soil sampling at North-East by the end of March.
Perth-based explorer Dundas Minerals (ASX: DUN) has commenced an infill gravity survey at the high priority North-East nickel-copper target within the prospective Albany-Fraser Orogen in Western Australia.
The target is one of four identified by initial analysis following high-resolution ground gravity and combined helicopter-borne electromagnetic and magnetic geophysical surveys across the region late last year.
The infill gravity survey will aim to provide enhanced resolution data for North-East and allow for more precise modelling of the depth and orientation of various geophysical anomalies.
It will be conducted on 250 metre-spaced lines, with 100m spacings between stations.
By comparison, last year’s project-wide gravity survey was completed on 1km spaced lines, with 500m spacings between stations.
Matilda South survey
A similar infill survey was completed at the Matilda South target in December and confirmed a large gravity anomaly interpreted as a mafic-ultramafic intrusive body of considerable size which Dundas plans to drill test for possible mineralisation during the year.
Unlike the results from Matilda South, outcropping rocks were observed at North-East during recent ground-truthing of the area.
Several of these were identified as coarse-grained pyroxenite, which is an intrusive mafic rock formed deep within the earth and can be associated with nickel-copper-platinum group element mineralisation.
The modelled density, size and shape of the gravity anomaly at North-East was similar to Matilda South and interpreted as a mafic-ultramafic intrusion.
This interpretation will be further tested and progressed with the acquisition of infill ground gravity data.
Soil sampling
Dundas has completed a multi-element geochemical soil sampling program at North-East and all samples have been submitted for assay.
The program was conducted on a 250m-square grid with approximately 200 sample locations and aimed to identify zones anomalous for minerals such as nickel, copper or gold.
Dundas confirmed the target was selected because of the shallow depth of cover (regolith) and the general absence of a calcrete layer, each of which is expected to add to the efficacy of the program results.
Assays results from the program are expected to be received by end-March.