Tambourah Metals commences airborne gravity survey over targets at Julimar North nickel-copper-PGE project

Newly-listed explorer Tambourah Metals (ASX: TMB) has commenced an airborne gravity survey over the Bolgart East and Tolarno targets within the wider Julimar North nickel-copper-platinum group elements (PGE) project in Western Australia’s West Yilgarn province.

The survey will cover approximately 1,300 line kilometres across both tenements and will aim to identify prospective ultramafic host rocks.

Global geophysical contractor Xcalibur Multiphysics has been contracted to do the work, which will be immediately followed by advanced processing and modelling of data to produce a gravity inversion model for delineating target dense rocks from surrounding less-dense host rocks.

The gravity dataset will be integrated with existing magnetic data to enhance Tambourah’s understanding of the underlying geology at Bolgart East and Tolarno.

Both targets are believed to have been historically underexplored for nickel and PGE due to a lack of outcrop, the predominance of farmland and a primary focus on gold mineralisation by past owners.

Areas of prospectivity identified by the airborne survey will be followed up with ground electromagnetic surveys and auger soil sampling.

The airborne survey is expected to be completed by year end.

Rock chip sampling

During the September quarter, Tambourah received highly encouraging rock chip samples from a visit to the site of its namesake gold project.

A total of 16 samples were collected from the central corridor of the Tambourah project area to infill and extend the areas of known mineralisation.

Four of the samples reported anomalous gold, with a maximum assay value of 33.4 grams per tonne.

Associated with the gold results was a wide range of elevated indicators of gold alteration elements.

Last month, a further 58 rock chip samples were collected from prospective quartz veins and alteration halos, with the aim of modelling the mineral systems across the Tambourah goldfield.

Field program

Tambourah’s September field program identified several drill-ready sites along strike from historic workings which could extend the known mineralisation.

To facilitate drilling of these targets and support ongoing exploration, Tambourah has completed access and heritage agreements; submitted a program of works for the Cheela and Tambourah projects; prepared drill programs and secured rigs; and purchased high-quality airborne magnetic survey data which is currently being processed.

Additional rock chip sampling, detailed mapping of quartz veins and focused soil sampling over prospective areas of alteration will continue in conjunction with the compilation and assessment of historic records and exploration results.

Financial results

At the end of the quarter, Tambourah had cash resources of $6.34 million.

Payments to related parties and their associates totalled $282,000 and comprised director and consulting fees ($58,000) and reimbursement of tenement acquisition fees ($228,000).

The company spent $125,000 on exploration activities during the period.