Nimy Resources confirms Mons project pipe structure intact to 1.5km
Nimy will start initial drilling at the Mons carbonatite prospect next month.
Depth slice modelling completed at a carbonatite prospect within Nimy Resources’ (ASX: NIM) Mons project in Western Australia has confirmed the pipe structure remains intact to 1.5 kilometres below surface.
The near perfect cylindrical shape is believed to infer rapid intrusion, consistent with being a carbonatite (or lamproite/kimberlite).
Geophysics work by Perth-based Resource Potentials has shown the structure post-dates other regional rock types such as granites and greenstones and is consequently sourced from considerable depth.
The company said the structural integrity could indicate a much later emplacement than the surrounding granites and the Karroun Hill greenstone belt to the east.
Initial drilling
Nimy plans to commence initial drilling at the Mons carbonatite in January to target the well-defined core of structure.
The program of works will include soil sampling, mineralisation and lithological testing using reverse circulation drilling of up to 20 holes to 300m, and the assessment of reverse circulation, air core or diamond drilling follow-up campaigns.
Positive development
Nimy executive director Luke Hampson said the finding is a positive development for Mons.
“Our geophysics work augurs well for the Nimy carbonatite prospect given Lynas Rare Earths’ (ASX: LYC) recent announcement of a 1.1km deep drill hole showing continuation of the Mt Weld carbonatite,” he said.
“The confirmation of structural and cylindrical continuity provides confidence for our forthcoming drilling program.”
He said the carbonatite prospect exploration strategy has been accelerated to meet the opportunity presented with the discovery of critical rare earth elements.
According to Nimy, carbonatites are rare igneous rocks (commonly intrusive) and can contain rare earth elements and other minerals such as niobium and phosphate.
Mons project
The Mons project is a district-scale landholding consisting of 15 approved tenements over an area of 2,564 square kilometres covering an 80km north-south strike of ultramafic.
It is located 140km north-northwest of Southern Cross and covers the Karroun Hill nickel district on the northern end of the world-famous Forrestania nickel belt.
Mons is reported to comprise a similar geological setting to the southern end of the Forrestania and Kambalda nickel belts.
The project sits in potentially large-scale nickel-rich komatiite sequences at the Murchison Domain of the Youanmi Terrane, within the Archean Yilgarn Craton.