Infinity Mining is narrowing in on several precious and base metal targets at its three key projects in Western Australia’s Pilbara region following analysis of four recent airborne electromagnetic surveys at the sites.
The company now has seven priority targets under investigation after it designed surveys to detect conductors related to volcanogenic-hosted massive sulphides and magmatic nickel-copper mineralisation. Additional geophysical and geological data will be applied to the targets and will be followed up with ground reconnaissance during this year’s field season.
Infinity’s Panorama, Strelley Gorge and Hillside projects were surveyed in October last year for a total of 967.8 line kilometres that identified 381 late-time anomalies consistent with bedrock conductors. The anomalies were interpreted by geophysists from independent specialist consultants, Newexco Exploration.
The explorer believes all three projects have the potential to host copper-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits similar to the nearby Sulphur Springs and Kangaroo Caves deposits. Sulphur Springs holds 17.4 million tonnes at 1.3 per cent copper, 4.2 per cent zinc and 17 grams per tonne silver, while the Kangaroo Caves deposit hosts 3.55 million tonnes at 6 per cent zinc, 0.77 per cent copper and 15.2g/t silver.
Infinity Mining chief executive officer Joe Groot said: “Infinity Mining continues to adopt best practice exploration with its use of airborne VTEM to identify base metal targets in the Pilbara. The results of the Newexco interpretation are very encouraging and will take Infinity closer to making a base metal discovery in its Pilbara projects.”
Two surveys were flown over Hillside in an area between dual results from a previous airborne inspection conducted by SkyTEM in 2018. It highlighted 125 anomalies at the project, with a particular focus on the northern block where a unique conductor was identified. Three additional anomalies were located west of a strike extensive conductor that runs through most of the northern Hillside block. An additional standout target was pinpointed in the southern block that returned a high-amplitude response and appears to show a well-defined line profile.
The survey results from Panorama returned 196 anomalies, primarily within complex geology, with both folding and faulting. Four priority targets stood out, including two located north of mapped mafic-ultramafic geology and one in the south-east corner of the southern tenements, while the fourth focus point is completely isolated compared to all other anomalies and is possibly related to a subparallel ridge.
Analysis of the Strelley Gorge survey revealed 60 late-time anomalies in areas of complex geology due to faulting and folding that the company says makes it difficult to link the targets. However, Infinity is particularly focused on the south-east area of the tenement due to its close proximity to Sulphur Springs.
Infinity plans to get boots on the ground in the coming months to gauge surface expression of the priority anomalies. It is gearing up for its first East Pilbara drill campaign for the year after receiving cultural heritage clearance from the Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation to explore Hillside.
The nine-hole RC program will test surface geochemistry and anomalies highlighted in the 2018 survey. Additional groundwork expected to be carried out will be incorporated with the drilling results and the latest survey data for a detailed geological interpretation of the central Hillside project.
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By Michael Philipps
