ASX-listed explorer, Legend Mining has set the rods spinning again with a diamond drilling program at its Mawson nickel, copper and cobalt discovery in the Fraser Range of Western Australia. The drilling program is designed to test the source of several intriguing seismic anomalies etched out from a recently completed 3D seismic survey.
The company says diamond drilling will initially focus on two priority target areas – ‘A’ and ‘B’.
Diamond drilling at area ‘A’ will target extensions of massive nickel-copper mineralisation below the Mawson discovery zone where previous drilling returned an assortment of serious nickel and copper hits including an extraordinary 31.1 metres at 2.80 per cent nickel and 2.04 per cent copper from 200.7m down-hole.
Interestingly, at target area ‘A’ the seismic anomalies are reported to correlate positively with the company’s structural interpretation, along with modelling of gravity data, suggesting potential for the mineralised Mawson intrusive to extend for “considerable” depth below the Mawson Fault.
Boosting the prospectivity of the area is the presence of a strong, flat lying electromagnetic conductor, interpreted to correspond to the keel position of the Mawson intrusive that will also be targeted during the drilling program.
About 1,000m northeast along strike lies target area ‘B’. Management says drilling at this target will test an interpreted thickening of the mineralised intrusive below a metasedimentary raft.
Structural analysis and seismic modelling undertaken by the company, coupled with geochemical modelling from completed drilling, suggests the Mawson intrusive may extend more than 1,200m below surface.
All diamond drill holes will reportedly be followed up with a suite of downhole surveys, including electromagnetic geophysical surveys and petrophysical property measurements that will aid the company in honing drill targets along with refining existing geophysical modelling.
In tandem with the diamond drilling program, Legend says innovative ground electromagnetic surveys will commence regionally over multiple high priority targets at the Rockford project later this month. The final touches are also being put on an aircore drilling program that is scheduled to commence once statutory approvals are granted.
The Mawson prospect lies within the company’s Rockford project that covers more than 3,000 square kilometres of tenure within the celebrated Fraser Range, located some 250 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie.
The region came to prominence nearly a decade ago following Sirius Resources’ revered Nova-Bollinger nickel, copper and platinum discovery about 120km away.
A 14.3 million tonne resource going 2.3 per cent nickel and 0.9 per cent copper has subsequently been defined at the now producing Nova-Bollinger mine operated by mining titan, IGO Limited.
Legend continues to delve deep into the mineralised nickel-copper-cobalt system at its exciting Mawson discovery. Early geophysical anomalies modelled from seismic and gravity surveys allude to a potential treasure trove buried deep. With the rig of truth now plumbing the depths at Mawson, only time will be the telling factor of the full extent of Legend’s discovery.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Matt Birney
