Legend Mining Limited (ASX:LEG) has intersected nickel-copper sulphides in diamond drilling at Area D of the Rockford project in WA’s prolific Fraser Range nickel-copper region.
The first hole in a 2-hole diamond program hit 9.6 metres of nickel-copper sulphides in gabbronorite host rock, which is the right rock for the mineralisation Legend is seeking.
This hole intersected two gabbronorite intrusive units, one of which contains significant disseminated and blebby pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pentlandite sulphides.
“This is a good hole”
Legend managing director Mark Wilson said, “This is a good hole. The first key takeaway is that it has intersected a nickel-copper system in the right host rock for the mineralisation we are looking for.
“The second is that the location of the sulphides is interpreted as the basal contact between the gabbronorite and the metasediments, which is textbook for where it should be.
“Assays and petrology will provide further information.”
Right geology
The presence of these three-phase sulphides within a prospective gabbronorite host rock demonstrates that the processes which form nickel-copper mineralisation associated with mafic intrusions are present at Area D.
Hole RKDD005 has also shown the source of the D5 conductor to be related to multiple graphite±pyrrhotite bands within metasediment.
Legend shares have had a good run in recent months, up from 2.7 cents at the start of the financial year to a new 12-month high of 5.5 cents earlier this month.
Shares up
In early trade today, shares are up 7.5% to 4.3 cents.
Prominent Fraser Range participants Independence Group NL (ASX:IGO) and Creasy Group are leveraged to Legend and watching their progress intently.
Drilled to 586.2 metres
This first hole, which was targeting the D5 low-frequency EM conductor and anomalous nickel-copper geochemistry in aircore holes, was terminated at a final depth of 586.2 metres.
It intersected two gabbronorite intrusive units with the upper intrusive intersecting disseminated and blebby pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pentlandite sulphides between 110.3 and 119.9 metres.
Prospective location
These three-phase sulphides are hosted in coarse-grained gabbronorite interpreted to represent the basal section of a large gabbronorite sill, which is considered a highly prospective location for massive sulphide mineralisation.
Assays from this interval are pending.
The hole also intersected a broad package of mixed metasediment/granulite containing multiple graphite±pyrrhotite bands which coincide with the position of the modelled D5 conductor.
This has been confirmed by a downhole electromagnetic survey.
The drilling rig has now moved to the second hole which will test the D1 conductor.