- Ardea Resources (ARL) confirms high-grade, near-surface nickel-cobalt mineralisation at the Goongarrie South deposit in WA
- Ardea completed drilling last year to support metallurgical work ahead of a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Kalgoorlie nickel project
- The company says drill results validate the mineralisation models used for the MRE and confirm discrete zones of bedrock shearing and alteration
- Metallurgical testwork is ongoing and the results will be used for resource optimisation and mining studies as part of the DFS work
- ARL shares end the day trading steady at $1.05
Ardea Resources (ARL) has confirmed high-grade, near-surface nickel-cobalt mineralisation through drilling at the Goongarrie South deposit in Western Australia.
The eight-hole diamond drilling program was completed late last year and aimed to generate run-of-mine mineralisation for metallurgical programs ahead of a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP).
Results include 26 metres at 1.33 per cent nickel and 0.029 per cent cobalt from 22 metres including 20 metres at 1.53 per cent nickel and 0.034 per cent cobalt from 28 metres in AGSD0032.
Additional results were 38 metres at 1.21 per cent nickel and 0.087 per cent cobalt from 66 metres in AGSD0034.
According to the company, the results validate the mineralisation models used to generate the Goongarrie South Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).
Ardea also said drilling confirmed discrete zones of bedrock shearing and alteration along with alkaline intrusions which account for the deep weathering with thick, high-grade nickel mineralisation at Goongarrie South.
“[Drilling] was important for confirming the expectation that premium goethite nickel-cobalt mineralisation would be located in the deeply weathered ‘V-shaped’ structure at
Goongarrie South,” Managing Director Andrew Penkethman said.
“With the unique Goongarrie geological model yet again confirmed, we continue to await the results of the ALS bench-scale metallurgy from Highway, as a control for the waiting Goongarrie program.”
The company’s ultimate goal is to enhance the KNP-Goongarrie project hub as a globally significant supplier of sustainable nickel-cobalt for the lithium-ion battery sector.
ARL shares ended the day trading steady at $1.05.