Perth-based nickel explorer Estrella Resources has struck nickel-copper sulphides in the first three step-out holes drilled at its T5 prospect 80km north-east of Kalgoorlie in WA’s Goldfields region.
The company says the intercepts show mineralisation continues to the south beyond downhole electromagnetic plates from previous drilling of the prospect at its wholly owned Carr Boyd nickel project.
The first hole recorded 26.51m of disseminated to stringer sulphides from 382.4m, 15.75m of disseminated to highly disseminated sulphides from 472.35m and 10.7m of disseminated to semi-massive sulphides from 559.6m.
The second hole intersected 17.45m of disseminated to semi-massive sulphides from 499.85m.
The company says the third hole struck 11.25m of blebby and globular sulphides from 587.9m.
Previous holes completed at T5 found multiple zones of nickel and copper sulphides, including high-grade massive sulphides over 4 per cent.
Estrella Resources Managing Director, Chris Daws said: “T5 continues to grow, and our drilling is providing invaluable information on the immediate geological setting. There is still a very large area to test surrounding and extending away from the existing discovery, including untested DHTEM plates that have so far represented significant sulphide accumulations.”
The company says the new diamond drill rig commissioned at Carr Boyd last month is operating extremely well and cutting core at double the previously achieved rates, speeding up the definition process.
The current program is designed to form a strategic cross-section that will locate additional massive sulphides.
The method of running electromagnetic surveys down deep holes was a driving factor behind the T5 discovery in May 2019.
The Carr Boyd nickel mine was discovered in the late 1960s by Great Boulder Mines and operated by Western Mining Corporation between 1973 and 1977.
After repeatedly changing hands for the next 40 years, Estrella secured the site in 2017.
About 170km south of Carr Boyd, Estrella is accelerating development plans for its Spargoville project near Kambalda in an effort to become Australia’s next nickel producer.
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By Matt Birney
