Inca Minerals (ASX:ICG) launches VTEM survey to refine drill targets at Jeal Elson, NT

• Inca Minerals (ICG) kicks off fresh geophysical work to refine drill targets across its Jean Elson iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) project in the Northern Territory
• The company launches an airborne versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEM) survey over five prospects to test for massive sulphide occurrences
• Once complete, Inca then plans to commence a gradient array induced polarisation (GAIP) survey in mid-September
• The work comes as Inca lodges an application for a third exploration licence in the area to increase its Jean Elson footprint to over 2100 square kilometres
• Shares in Inca Minerals are up 6.52 per cent to 4.9 cents at 11.08 am AEST

Inca Minerals (ICG) has kicked off fresh geophysical work to refine drill targets across its Jean Elson iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) project in the Northern Territory.

The company has launched an airborne versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEM) survey over five prospects in the area to test for massive sulphide occurrences.

Meanwhile, Inca has planned to launch a gradient array induced polarisation (GAIP) surveying in mid-September. The GAIP survey was originally scheduled for between May and June but had to be pushed back due to COVID-19 restrictions. Inca said it expected the survey to take around a month to complete.

When results have been received from these two surveys, the company will integrate the data with existing magnetic-radiometric and gravity datasets to help identify and prioritise drilling targets.

Subject to the completion of the surveys, Inca has planned to have drill rigs onsite in the upcoming drilling season in early 2023.

General Manager Ross Brown said the cumulative results being generated by exploration at the Jean Elson project were “compelling”.

“Like the early development of Frewena, which is still in its drilling infancy, exploration at Jean Elson has ticked all the key lead-up boxes,” Mr Brown said.

“Reconnaissance exploration followed by systematic target generation is Inca’s preferred development pathway and we are pursuing this approach to unlock the potential of this exciting new region.”

The company said the large-scale targets defined at the project so far, particularly in Spinifex Pigeon and Kestrel prospects, showed strong indications of sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) and iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) potential.

Today’s news comes as Inca lodges an application for a third exploration licence in the area to increase its Jean Elson footprint to over 2100 square kilometres.

Shares in Inca Minerals were up 6.52 per cent to 4.9 cents at 11.08 am AEST.