- Si6 Metals (SI6) has reported delays to work at its Maibele Project in Botswana after a key member of its exploration team was diagnosed with COVID-19
- The explorer recently drilled a diamond hole at Maibele North to follow up on a 2014 hole and extended the nickel sulphide hosting horizon to the northeast
- Assay results have now been received, with the strongest section between 440 and 450 metres which included a hit of 0.42 metres at 0.12 per cent nickel and 0.08 per cent copper
- Chairperson Patrick Holywell said the company had intended to complete a down-hole electromagnetic survey to test for off-hole conductors, however, this will be delayed due to the diagnosis and resourcing issues
- Meanwhile, a program for 3D magnetic modelling for Maibele North is underway and preparations have begun for an audio-magnetotellurics survey to identify further deep targets
- Shares have been trading 5.9 per cent higher at 1.8 cents
Si6 Metals (SI6) has reported delays to work at its Maibele Project in Botswana after a key member of its exploration team was diagnosed with COVID-19.
The explorer recently completed a diamond drill hole, MADD0153, at Maibele North to test for the presence of a mineralised horizon which was intersected in 2014.
Hole MADD0153 intersected ultramafic rock types with heavily disseminated sulphide s and massive sulphide stringers, which the company said indicates the nickel sulphide hosting horizon extends at least 50 metres (or at least 60 metres as per the ASX announcement on February 8, 2021) towards the northeast.
Si6 had intended to follow up with a downhole survey but this will be delayed following the diagnosis, as Chairperson Patrick Holywell explained.
“We had planned to complete a down-hole electromagnetic survey on this current hole to test for off- hole conductors however this has been delayed due to the very unfortunate diagnosis of a COVID-19 case in a key member of our Botswana exploration team and resourcing issues. Our top priority at all times is the health and safety of our staff, contractors and the communities in which we operate.”
Assay results for MADD0153 show a strong section between 440 and 450 metres, similar to that of the 2014 holes which the company said had strong zones between 460 and 470 metres.
Best intersects from MADD0153 within this interval included 0.42 metres at 0.12 per cent nickel and 0.08 per cent copper, as well as 0.1 metres at 0.32 per cent nickel and 0.24 per cent copper.
“The Maibele North resource has a strike length of circa 800m and studies were undertaken on an open pit mine plan for Maibele North with the resource to feed the plant at Selebi Phikwe,” said the Chairperson.
“Of importance is the fact that these studies were only based on drilling results from 2014 and prior. Major drilling programs were undertaken subsequently in 2015/16 and we have now done just a single step out hole.”
“The nickel sulphide intersections from the last hole drilled some five years ago as well as this current hole are located some 200 vertical metres below the bottom of the Maibele North resource and demonstrate the significant potential for further discovery at depth beneath the entire 1.4-kilometre strike of the Maibele North nickel sulphide body,” he added.
Meanwhile, a program for 3D magnetic modelling for Maibele North is underway and preparations have begun for an audio-magnetotellurics survey along the entire mineralised trend to identify further deep targets.
Shares have been trading 5.9 per cent higher at 1.8 cents at 10:23 am AEDT.