Perth-based base metals exploration company, Legend Mining, has expanded the mineralised footprint of its high-priority “Area D” target at the Rockford project in the Fraser Range of WA, with recent RAB drilling returning 16 metres grading 0.12% nickel, 0.02% copper and 0.03% cobalt from 74m down-hole.
Results of the company’s low-frequency moving-loop electromagnetic, or “MLTEM”, survey across the Area D prospect are currently being finalised in the lead-up to a diamond drilling program that is set to kick off next month.
Legend’s exploration budget was given a big boost mid-year when it entered three so-called “transformational agreements” - the Ponton JVA 2019 with Mark Creasy, the Rockford JVA 2019 with Creasy and Independence Group and the Legend/Independence Group JVA 2019, which put $9.8 million into the coffers.
Since then, the low-frequency MLTEM survey, which was aimed at better resolving the previously defined D5 target and further conductors at Area D, has been concluded.
The D5 conductor target was originally identified by MLTEM surveying and occurs near the south-west hinge of an interesting north-east/south-west trending structural feature.
Elsewhere, RAB drilling to the immediate east of D5 increased the prospectivity of the geophysical feature with the intersection of nickel-copper-cobalt sulphides in several holes, but most notably in a 14-metre zone grading 0.37% nickel, 0.43% copper and 0.03% cobalt from 72m down-hole.
According to the company, geophysical modelling of the recent low-frequency derived survey data will involve the integration of all geological and geochemical data collected from Area D to date.
It is envisaged that the upcoming diamond drilling will test the newly constrained D5 conductor and if all goes to plan, the program should commence in mid-October.
In addition, Legend has received assay results from 28 of 69 RAB holes recently drilled, which were targeting four Area D “lookalike” aeromagnetic-gravity features located within a 10km radius of Area D, along with two separate targets nearer to the centre of the Rockford project tenement holdings.
The exploration house has also started fixed-loop electromagnetic surveying over two previously identified MLTEM conductors at Areas Q and U.
These surveys are designed to better constrain and resolve the conductors and allow accurate modelling in preparation for possible drilling programs that are expected to take two weeks to complete, once a decision to drill has been adopted.
The company also said that a detailed 50m line spaced aeromagnetic survey has just been completed over the eastern portion of Ponton JVA 2019 tenements E28/1716 and 1717.
This survey now provides full tenure coverage over nickel-copper prospective lithologies associated with the Western Stratigraphic Package that hosts the Octagonal and Magnus prospects on the Ponton JVA ground and the Nova-Bollinger and Silver Knight base metal deposits, some 100km to the south-west.
Whilst final processed data is yet to be received, preliminary images have highlighted several aeromagnetic and structural targets that appear to warrant follow up with aircore drilling, management said.
Rockford is located about 280 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and covers a combined tenure of nearly 3,100 square kilometres, with the bulk of the project controlled by a joint venture between Legend who holds a 70% stake and the Creasy Group, who owns the 30% balance.
Whilst the primary target is Nova-style primary nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation, Tropicana style gold mine lookalikes are also on the radar for Legend.
Managing Director Mark Wilson said: “This survey was designed to optimise the modelling of the D5 and other surrounding conductors which will be the focus of the upcoming diamond drilling program.”
“We expect to announce details of this diamond drilling program in the first week of October. Meanwhile, further EM surveys are active at Areas Q and U to give follow up diamond drill targets along with Shackleton, Worsley and Crean prospects.”
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