Skip to main content

Sulphur Springs: high-priority EM targets identified by airborne survey

Published by , Assistant Editor
Global Mining Review,


Venturex Resources Ltd has reported the results of the heliborne electromagnetic (HEM) geophysical survey completed at its 100%-owned Sulphur Springs Copper-Zinc project, located South-east of Port Hedland in Pilbara, Western Australia earlier this year.

The HEM survey was undertaken to evaluate the local and regional exploration potential of the project area and generate targets for drill testing.

Venturex believes the results represent an exciting development for the project, with numerous high-priority targets generated that warrant further detailed field investigation, ground EM surveys and potential drill testing.

Implications for regional exploration

The Sulphur Springs project area has now been covered by modern geophysical techniques. This will allow focussed exploration and target generation work to continue.

The results have identified 11 priority targets that warrant follow-up through field inspection, ground EM surveys and drilling if warranted.

Both the Sulphur Springs and Kangaroo Caves deposits are associated with this contact. It is important to note that anomalies XA1 – XA8 are all interpreted as being located along this prospective contact.

Implications for Sulphur Springs Exploration

The HEM survey has identified three areas of significant interest in the immediate vicinity of the Sulphur Springs Resource, anomalies XA5 – XA7.

Anomaly XA5 is located on the Eastern flank of the Sulphur Springs orebody. The anomaly extends for a further 200 – 300 m beyond the current interpreted position of the Sulphur Springs orebody. Given the location of the anomaly immediately to the East of the current orebody, this is an area of particular interest for further exploration.

Anomaly XA6 is of significant interest as it is located on the western flank of the Sulphur Springs Resource. The anomaly extends for a further 200 –250 m beyond the current position of the Sulphur Springs Resource. This is an exciting development as it continues to add weight to the company’s belief that the mineralised system at Sulphur Springs may extend further to the West than currently interpreted.

Anomaly XA7 is also close to the Sulphur Springs orebody and proximal to the prospective Marker Chert horizon and therefore warrants follow-up.

Together, anomalies XA5, XA6, XA7 and the previously identified down-hole EM anomaly in SSD044A demonstrate the strong exploration potential in the immediate area around the Sulphur Springs Resource.

 

Survey Details

The XCITE airborne electromagnetic survey was carried by New Resolution Geophysics Australia Pty Ltd (NRG) on behalf of Venturex over the northern portion of the Sulphur Springs Project area.

The primary objective of the survey was to explore for conductive VMS-style base metal mineralisation (Cu/Zn) primarily along/adjacent to the prospective Marker Chert horizon – the target areas being along strike from the known Sulphur Springs and Kangaroo Caves deposits. This was the main focus of the survey as the currently identified Sulphur Springs orebody is located at the contact of the Marker Chert and the underlying felsic volcanic units. The XCITE system was selected in order to provide higher resolution of early time/channel information as it was anticipated that the local VMS mineralisation, as evidenced by the Sulphur Springs orebody, may only be weakly conductive.

The survey data has been examined in detail with a focus on anomalies located in close proximity to the mapped Marker Chert. This allowed an interpretation to be carried out resulting in the identification of 11 priority exploration targets for assessment and potential further ground follow-up.

Next Steps

Venturex will continue to review and assess the new survey results. The anomalies will be field-checked and, if warranted, ground-based EM surveys and follow-up drill testing will be undertaken.

As the company is continuing to focus on completing the current drilling programme targeting shallow mineralisation at Sulphur Springs before the onset of the wet season, field-based follow-up work at the newly identified EM targets will be undertaken in the New Year.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/27112017/sulphur-springs-high-priority-em-targets-identified-by-airborne-survey/

You might also like

EMI

Electrification in Mining virtual conference

Join us on 16 April 2024 for Global Mining Review's first Electrification in Mining event is an interactive virtual conference, focusing on electrification as the future of sustainable mining and exploring the innovative approaches and technologies being developed to facilitate its implementation.

Register for FREE »

 
 
 

Embed article link: (copy the HTML code below):


 

This article has been tagged under the following:

Australian mining news