A program of follow-up geochemical sampling has firmed up four areas of coherent nickel +/- cobalt, copper anomalism on EL 2910 De Rose Hill in South Australia. Three of these areas are associated with aeromagnetic features suggesting possible prospective mafic to ultramafic rocks beneath aeolian and alluvial sand cover. Samples have been collected on a one kilometre by half kilometre grid. Peak nickel values are up to 150 ppm in ironstone samples and 95 ppm in minus 75 micron soil samples.
Anomalies have been defined by a 90 ppm nickel threshold in ironstone samples and are up to five kilometres in strike length. In many cases anomalies remain open along strike. Normalisation of results from ironstone concentrate samples highlights anomalous areas consistent with the raw assay values. In the south of EL 2910 the anomalous zone of nickel and copper geochemistry occurs approximately 20 kilometres along strike from the W anka W anka mafic-ultramafic dyke complex held by the joint venture under ELA 343/96.
Limited previous drilling at W anka W anka in the early 1970’s by Kennecott intercepted disseminated nickel-copper sulphides in one of three shallow holes drilled into the complex. The nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation consisted of up to 5% pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pentlanditepyrite intercepted in troctolite over a downhole width of approximately six metres adjacent to the southern margin of the dyke.
The W anka W anka dyke is a differentiated mafic to ultramafic dyke complex with mapped dimensions of approximately 15 kilometres in length by 150 metres in width. Previous work suggests the dyke consists of multiple fractionated zones representing individual magma pulses and is therefore interpreted as a potential major magma conduit or feeder zone.
Recognised rock types range in composition from olivine and pyroxene gabbros, troctolite, peridotite and norite. Aeromagnetics suggest continuations to the system along strike to the north-east towards EL 2910. The W anka W anka dyke, and its possible extensions, are considered excellent targets for Jinchuanstyle magmatic nickel copper deposits. The world-class Jinchuan deposit hosts more than 500 million tonnes of ore grading 1.2% nickel and 0.7% copper.
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