Koolyanobbing Metals

Koolyanobbing Metals Project

Highlights

  • Recent ground EM Survey identifies three late time conductors at the Koolyanobbing Metals Project 

  • Two conductors, VC4 and VC5, lie within an interpreted mafic/ultramafic volcanic sequence in the underexplored Koolyanobbing Greenstone Belt

  • The third conductor, Island Gossan Conductor lies within a felsic volcanic unit, in a sequence of banded iron and metamorphosed mafic rocks.

  • Each of the three conductors demonstrate all the consulting geophysicist's target ranking criteria for high priority drill targets

  • ASQ considers the targets prospective for gold, nickel, and copper

  • Drill testing planned immediately following environmental approval and heritage clearances

 

ASQ established the Koolyannobbing Metals Project, (KMP) in 2022 following the completion of the aquisition of ground in the region. 

In 2022 the company  carried out ground based fixed loop electromagnetics (FLEM) surveys at the KMP and the survey generated three high-priority bedrock conductors.

GEM Geophysics Pty Ltd completed FLEM surveying during December 2022 and January 2023 with supervision and interpretation by ASQ's geophysics consultant Newexco Exploration Pty Ltd. 

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Fig 1: KMP Tenement locations and status with the identified FLEM late-time conductor positions
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Figure 2: Identified Island Gossan, VC4 & VC5 FLEM late-time conductors

Island Gossan

Exploration by Noranda Australia Ltd ('Noranda') in 1980 identified the target "Island Gossan", consisting of an area of outcropping gossan developed within an interlayered sequence of felsic tuff, clastic sediments, chert and banded iron formation on an island within the Lake Seabrook salt lake (See Figure 1 and 2). The gossanous horizon was mapped by Noranda over a strike length of 400m, with widths up to 5m. Pyrite, pyrrhotite and oxidised chalcopyrite were observed. Values up to 1150ppm Cu and 0.04ppm Au were recorded from rock chip sampling. Ground magnetics confirmed the continuity of the gossanous horizon under the Lake Seabrook salt pan to the south. Although planned, drill testing was never completed.

The ASQ Island Gossan FLEM survey consisted of two lines (Local Grid: 32350 and 32450) and loop 22LSL7 designed to explore the interpreted gossanous horizon for bedrock conductors. A well-defined late-time anomaly was identified across both lines. The late-time anomaly is clearly separate from an identified mid- time response interpreted to be attributable to the conductive sediment layers of the salt lake.

The Island Gossan conductor plate has a modelled conductance of 6400S, a length of 150m and a depth extent of 227m (See Figure 3).

Figure 3: Modelled Island Gossan FLEM conductor plate (red) with loop 22LSL7 (blue) and Bz profiles of channels 30-34 (white lines)

 

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Figure 4: Island Gossan FLEM conductor plate with interpreted geology and planned drill hole

 

VC4 and VC5

Previous explorers Emu Nickel NL ('Emu') completed a 27.5km2 VTEM airborne electromagnetics (AEM) survey in 2008 to test a 5km strike length of the western edge of the interpreted ultramafic contact within E77/2684 to cover a 1km long Ni soil anomaly and a 1.5km Au in soils anomaly. Several conductors were identified and followed up with RAB/RC drilling. ASQ had this work reviewed by Newexco Exploration Pty Ltd ('Newexco'). Newexco identified two high-priority, strong late-time anomalies (also identified by the previous explorer – referred to as "Anomalies VC4 and VC5") and other lower-priority anomalies. The previous explorer attempted to drill test Anomaly VC4 but encountered drilling difficulties with some planned holes abandoned and others moved. Newexco has concluded that the previous explorer's drilling fell just short of the conductor and did not adequately test the target. They did not attempt to drill test VC5 due to drilling difficulties already encountered and the position of the anomaly within the salt lake.

The ASQ VC4/VC5 FLEM survey consisted of five lines and two loops, designed to target the VC4 and VC5 anomalies and improve conductor constraints for drilling.

At VC4, the FLEM survey identified a strike extensive mid-time source across multiple lines. Within the broader source, a zone of higher conductance was identified in the late time centred under line 34320. A late-time model of VC4 was achieved with a good fit to lines 34320 and 34420. This was done with a 170 x 400m, 1360S plate with a steep SW dip.

The VC5 conductor was well-defined across three lines by the FLEM survey. A model was produced with a strong fit across all three lines, with the dip and strike of the plate constrained to be consistent with the modelling of the VC4 anomaly. The final model is a 380 x 160m, 3000S plate, steeply dipping SW, with a slight plunge to the south.

Figure 5: Modelled VC4 and VC5 FLEM conductor plates (red) with loops 22LSL8 and 22LSL9 (blue) and Bz profiles of channels 30-34 (white lines)
Planning for the Drill testing of the conductors is underway.