お知らせ • Feb 16
Cullen Resources Limited Announces Positive Nickel - Cobalt Assays, Wongan Hills
WONGAN HILLS PROJECT, WA - targeting Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) Cu-Zn-Ag-Au and Ni-Cu-PGE mineralisation (Cullen 90%). RC drilling tested a previous intersection of a nickel sulphide-bearing ultramafic, and Air Core targeted four soil anomalies along the Rupert Trend. 5RC holes further tested a strong ground EM conductor (Model C3) at Rupert and outlined a lensoidal (possibly intrusive) body of ultramafic with a best intersection of 30m at 1,161 ppm Ni, with 22ppm Cu, and 80ppm Co (WHRC14 from 115-145m) - similar to the intersection in previous hole RC6 which contained trace nickel sulphides. Significantly, 500m south-southeast of RC6, air core hole WHAC148 returned a strong intersection of nickel with cobalt (15m at 1,963 ppm Ni, with 227 ppm Co, and 76ppm Cu from 5m - max 5m composite sample of 3,021ppm Ni with 389ppm Co - Cullen notes that cobalt anomalies may reflect regolith concentration - and, WHAC 151, 230m west on the same x-section, returned 17m at 1,802 Ni, 160 ppm Co from 20m to End of Hole, with 32ppm Cu. These Ni-Co intersections partially overlie coincident, discrete magnetic +/- VTEM anomalies at the northern tip of an untested strike-extensive (approximately 3km) magnetic belt (Figs. 1 and 2), and together with area RC6 are interpreted to be part of a prospective mafic-ultramafic complex. Historical drilling, some 5km south on strike of Cullen's recent drilling, includes 0.6m of 7,800ppm Ni with 780ppm Co in the regolith from 4.9m (WAMEX 18337) which further extends the target trend. Examination of all drill hole geochemical and geological data is on-going, and Pt-Pd assays and petrography of selected RC and AC drill sections (of 5m samples or 1m resampling) has been initiated. Follow-up ground EM surveying is proposed to identify potential sulphidic zones, initially along the approx. 3km untested section of the Rupert Trend. Cullen has previously reported that nickel sulphides were observed in percussion drill chips in Cullen's drill hole RC6 at the Rupert Prospect, following examination of samples in thin and polished section by a consultant petrologist (Minerex Services Pty Ltd). Sulphides identified include: pentlandite (iron-nickel sulphide), pyrite, pyrrhotite, bravoite (iron-nickel sulphide) and violarite (oxidized form of pentlandite-pyrrhotite); with niccolite - a nickel arsenide. Significantly, the host to these sulphides is described as an "amphibolitised, former serpentinised komatiite" in a 30m thick (downhole) section of RC6 which averages 1150 ppm Ni from 5m composite samples. Note, the identification of ultramafic as komatiite is tentative given the relatively high-grade of metamorphism of the samples. Re-assays of 5m composites from RC6 returned significant anomalies of palladium (Pd) to 101ppb, and platinum (Pt) to 26ppb in the regolith overlying the nickel-bearing ultramafics. RC6 was positioned to test a modelled ground EM anomaly plate (C3) situated at 125m downhole for base metal mineralisation of the VHMS-type. A 2m semi massive to massive sulphidic (pyrite-pyrrhotite, 60-70%) BIF unit from 131m was interpreted to be the source of the EM anomaly. Follow-up exploration of nickel sulphide prospectivity, Rupert Trend This strike-extensive, magnetic stratigraphy along the eastern boundary of the greenstone belt within E4882, comprises BIF, shale and ultramafics which constitute a highly prospective, target trend for Ni-Cu-PGE mineralisation. Within E70/4882, there has been no previous drilling, prior to Cullen's or any previous explorers south of RC6 to 6590000mN, or along the 15km trend northwards, which targets the magnetic ultramafics-bearing strata on the eastern greenstone boundary, and, as far as Cullen is aware, komatiites and/or nickel sulphides have never been reported from previous exploration in the Wongan Hills greenstone belt. A drone magnetic survey was completed (450 lines at 25m spacing) over key prospects to assist targeting of follow-up air core and RC drilling reported herein. Reverse Circulation (RC) and an Air Core (AC) drilling were completed in January 2022, testing four prospects at Rupert, Rupert South and Rupert North (2). RC drilling (RC13-17, 5 holes for 834m) targeted the nickel sulphides observed in drill hole RC6 at the Rupert Prospect. Several pyritic shales were intersected and are interpreted to be the source of the ground EM conductors (Fig. 5). Significantly, 500m south of RC6, air core drilling returned intersections of nickel with cobalt (15m at 1,963 ppm Ni, with 227 ppm Co, TNAC148 form 5m - max 5m sample of 3021ppm Ni with 389ppm Co and TNAC 151 on the same x-section, returned 17m at 1,802 Ni, 160 ppm Co from 20m to End of Hole). RC drilling also returned broad intersections of elevated base metals and silver (Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ag) and pathfinders (As, Sb and Bi) in the regolith and in bedrock, generally above (on section) the ultramafic unit These elevated levels of metals may provide a vector for base/precious metal mineralisation down dip, further to the west, or have been derived from 1-8m thick, pyritic shale horizons +/- cherty BIF, generally at the boundaries of ultramafic unit, and containing up to 329ppm Pb with 7.17ppm Ag. Air Core drilling (AC134-179, 46 holes for 2315m) targeting copper-nickel- gold +/- palladium soil anomalies at Rupert, Rupert South and Rupert North (2) prospects intersected ultramafics on most sections - the possible source of the palladium soil anomalies - and zones of hydrothermal alteration and/or quartz veining. Air core drilling returned low level regolith Au anomalies at Rupert South (TNAC136, 2m at 0.32 g/t Au from 50-52m EoH) in faulted, sheared mafics, with minor ultramafics and BIF; and TNAC166 returned 5m at 0.11g/t Au from 50-55m, at Rupert North. These regolith gold anomalies are related to fault/shear zones in mafic- ultramafic-metasediments packages. Historical drilling by VAM Ltd. (1970) reported up to: 7,600ppm Ni, 780ppm Co with 2,800 ppm Cr in hole 3466 from 16-18 feet (WAMEX A18337) which lies in the southern part of E4882 and supports the on-trend occurrence of ultramafics south from the Rupert Prospect. VAM targeted bauxite and Ni-Cu.
