NARNDEE IGNEOUS COMPLEX
NARNDEE IGNEOUS COMPLEX
90km SSW Mount Magnet, WA
OVERVIEW
The Narndee Project covers a large portion of the ultramafic zone of the Narndee Igneous Complex (NIC) and considered a Ni-Cu-PGE target based on historical sampling and drilling results and has been compared to the Bushveld Complex model for mineralisation. Past explorers have reported drill intersections with anomalous grade however, resource size has eluded discovery perhaps due to the complex deformation history and applying the right technique to discriminate mineralisation from the fractured and secondary altered geophysical signatures.
Historical Results
Westralian Nickel/INCO (1970’s) RC drilling near Four Corner Bore reported:
- Z11574: 10.5m@1.50% Ni from surface
- Z11568: 7.5m @ 1.53% Ni from the surface
- Z11578: 7.5m @ 1.26% Ni from 10.5m
Hunter Resources/BHP (1995-1990) drilling reported one mineralised hole
- 3NP01 14m@0.39%Ni and 0.12g/t Pt + Pd from 10m
Wedgetail Resources (2000-2001) drilling had one hit of interest:
- ND005: 1m@5.3g/t (Pt+Pd) and 0.32%Ni and O.12%Cu from 113m
Apex Minerals/Mark Creasy/Falconbridge drilling at Wedgetail and Wedgetail North prospects found:
- NARC-03-01: 1m @ 0.27% Ni, 0.32% Cu, 401ppb Pd from 47m
- NARC-03-06: 1m @ 0.2% Ni, 413ppb Pt+Pd from 117m
- NARC-03-15: 4m @ 0.43% Ni, 0.1% Cu, 491ppb Pd from 240m
- NARC-03-19: 8m @ 0.5% Ni, 0.13% Cu, 128ppb Pt+Pd from 124m
- NARC-03-20: 1m @ 0.59% Ni, 0.14% Cu, 632ppb Pt+Pd from 220m
Maximus Resources drilled at the Milgoo, Wedgetail and Wedgetail North prospects for Ni-Cu-PGE and Narndee Homestead target for VMS style mineralisation. Best results were:
- MNRC0002 3m @ 0.43% Ni, 0.5% Cu and 185ppb Pt+Pd from 99m
- MNRC0001 3m @ 0.35% Ni, 0.27% Cu and 102ppb Pt+Pd from 145m
- NX12-04 10m @ 1% Zn, hole
- NX12-10 1m @ 0.62% Cu, 12g/t Au, hole
- NX12-11 1m @ 7.3% Zn, hole
- NX12-13 3m @ 0.76% Cu,
- NX14-29 4m @ 1.5% Cu, 10g/t Ag and 0.2g/t Au
Figure 1: Historical Results of interest within the Narndee Project area.
FURTHER POTENTIAL
Aldoro Resources compiled the historical data sets and remodelled the geophysical data, aeromagnetic and REPTEM surveys and found them deficient in resolving geophysical signatures in resolution and depth. Two VTEM Max surveys were flown in 2020/2021 over the majority of the project area generating a number of EM anomalies. These anomalies were followed up on the ground with fixed loop and moving loop EM systems highlighting the VC01, VC03 and VC11 areas. Drilling into these geophysical targets with diamond and RC drilling techniques at VC01 intersected both massive and disseminated sulphides with the best intersections reporting;
- NDD0014: 4.26m @1.22%Ni, 0.53%Cu, 0.08%Co from 277.14m
- NDD0008: 2.9m @0.92% Ni, 0.4%Cu. 0.06%Co from 106.3m
- NDD0003: 2.05m@1.00%Ni, 0.21%Cu, 0.06%Co from 111.55m
- NDD0001: 1.65m@0.93% Ni, 0.15%Cu, 0.07% Co from 212.75m
- NDD0004: 1m@1.35%Ni, 0.36%Cu and 0.09% Co from 271.9m
Figure 2: VTEM survey showing the shallower conductive basement areas, note the airborne system has limited depth penetration.
Figure 3. Plan projection showing completed and planned drillhole pierce points of the VC1 target and interpretation of the magmatic sulphide footprint. Note, NDP means a planned pierce point.
Concern was expressed about the depth penetration of the EM techniques and ability to resolve sulphide mineralisation so ground IP gradient array and sounding methods were adopted over the key areas identified in the VTEM survey. The ground IP identified a number of chargeability anomalies with resistivity features that were interpreted as fault released or discrete possible contact related. Drilling these features in late 2022 to 2023 by diamond core and RC drilling methods which discriminated the Eastern anomaly, a fault-controlled contact anomaly with a 900m strike extent and plunging to the north. Diamond drilling on the Eastern anomaly intersected:
- NDD0028: 10m@0.59%Ni, 0.17%Cu, 0.02%Co and 0.63ppm (Pd+Pt) from 219m
- NDD0029: 9m@0.57%Ni, 0.17%Cu, 0.02%Co and 0.9ppm (Pd+Pt) from 296m
Figure 4: IP gradient array (northern block) and IP sounding (southern block) showing the chargeability across the survey area. The anomalies labelled including the diamond drill holes. The VC01 area is in the southern area.
In summary, the potential areas of the economically significant massive and disseminated sulphides has been elusive, but indications to date suggest the potential for such deposits may exist. Current drilling is targeting areas around NDD0032 and INCO’s Four Corner Bore.