New Targets Defined at Carr Boyd Rocks
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
17 September 2020
ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
New Targets Defined at Carr Boyd Rocks, MLHPEM Testing Planned
HIGHLIGHTS
New Ni-Cu-Co targets were defined following geochemical auger drilling program completed
earlier in the year over the NW portion of the Carr Boyd Nickel Project.
Field validation identified gossanous sulphides and copper oxide mineralisation at defined
prospects,
A High Powered Electro-Magnetic Moving Loop (MLHPEM) survey will commence shortly to
extend over the new eastern target zones.
Drill testing to commence once MLHPEM is completed and targets defined.
Estrella Resources Limited (ASX: ESR) (Estrella or the Company) is pleased to announce that new Ni-CuCo targets have been defined and validated at the Carr Boyd Nickel Project (CBNP or the Project).A
MLHPEM geophysical survey is scheduled to commence in the coming weeks over the newly identified
target areas. The CBNP comprises the Carr Boyd Layered Complex (CBLC or the Complex) which is a
magmatic sulphide system that hosts the historic Carr Boyd Rocks nickel-copper mine. Carr Boyd was the
first magmatic hosted style of nickel deposit discovered and mined in WA. It was discovered an the late
1960’s and produced 202,110t of ore at an average grade of 1.43% Ni and 0.46% Cu between 1973-1977.
Figure 1. Defined geochemical Target Zones on aeromagnetics with simplified geological interpreation. The Central Zone
is currently the focus of drilling, with POH Zone and Tektite Hill now the focus of HPEM geophysical surveying.
The Company completed an extensive geochemical auger drilling program earlier in the year (ASX:
24/04/20 New Nickel & Gold Targets Identified) which identified several new target zones as shown at
Figure 1.
Field investigation of the eastern target zones was completed during the current diamond drilling program
at the Target 5 nickel discovery. The field work resulted in the validation and discovery of gossanous
material (oxidized sulphides) and copper oxide mineralisation (malachite-azurite) in shallow pits at POH
and Watertank prospects (Figure 1 & Figure 2).
Figure 2. Copper oxide minerals (green-blue) and gossanous sulphides (dark brown) minerlisation in shallow
scrapings/pits at POH prospect (368961E/6674000N)
Anomalous Ni-Co was identified in the east of the project area during the geochemical auger drilling. During
follow up field validation the anomaly was identified as being associated with a silica capped and weathered
ultramafic hill (Figure 3) with gossanous sulphidic subcrops on the hill. Tektite Hill extends for approximately
250m x 200m and is truncated to the north by granites and buried by transported cover to the south.
Figure 3. Rubbly silica capped ultramafic with gossanous zones at Tektite Hill. This sits on a truncated magnetic high
which has not been drill tested and shows promising anaomlous auger geochemistry.
Chris Daws, CEO said “Carr Boyd continues to provide high impact targets which require further detailed
investigation. The T-5 nickel sulphide discovery was uncovered by Estrella’s previous MLHPEM work and
it will be exciting to see what the Phase IV program will provide from what certainly looks like a fertile
metalliferous environment. Estrella’s work is ongoing across the project area with diamond drilling at T-5
currently in progress. I look forward in updating shareholders further as our endeavors to unlock a world
class ore-body at Carr Boyd continues.”
The Company has commissioned Southern Geoscience Consultant to commence a High Powered ElectroMagnetic Moving Loop (MLHPEM) geophysical survey using 200 amp powered equipment with B field
sensors. The survey to commence in the coming weeks will extend eastwards from the previous survey
areas and cover the POH Zone and new Tektite Hill Zone as shown at Figure 4.
MLHPEM Survey
Extension Area
Figure 4. Previous HPEM stations on aeromagnetics covering the Central Zone and Target 5 area which is the current
focus of drilling. The central box defines the new target area for the HPEM extension survey which covers the POH
Zone and Tektite Hill Zone.
The Company advises that recent drone video footage of the Carr Boyd Rocks diamond drilling
program and mine area is also now available to view on its website pages. The footage can be viewed
by following the link provided below;
https://www.estrellaresources.com.au/projects/carr-boyd-nickel-project/
ABOUT THE PROJECT AND THE CBLC
The Carr Boyd Nickel Project (CBNP) is a magmatic
hosted sulphide system which comprises the Carr
Boyd Layered Complex (CBLC or the Complex). The
CBLC is in a Tier 1 jurisdiction approximately 80km
north north-east of Kalgoorlie Western Australia. An
all-weather haul road accessible by Estrella under a
granted miscellaneous license connects the Project
to the Goldfields Highway via Scotia. Estrella holds
259km2 of contiguous tenure over the entire
magmatic mafic-ultramafic layered complex
The CBLC hosts the historic Carr Boyd Rocks nickel
mine which was the first magmatic hosted style of
nickel deposit discovered and mined in WA. It was
discovered an the late 1960’s and produced 202,110t
of ore at an average grade of 1.43% Ni and 0.46%
Cu between 1973-1977.
Figure 5. Location of Carr Boyd Project
Komatiites flows have been the main source of developed nickel sulphide mines in WA and have been
explored extensively since the late 1960’s. Due to their well understood geochemistry, formation, and highgrade sulphide enrichment process within defined channels, most of the studies and exploration programs
in WA have focused on discovering this style of mineralisation. The Kambalda-Kalgoorlie-Leinster-Laverton
Goldfields Region has been the main focus for komatiite exploration, with limited potential existing outside
this region. Greenfields discoveries of komatiite nickel have all bar dried up in the Goldfields Region and
its only deep brownfields exploration that is delivering new nickel deposits.
Elsewhere around the world, large scale magmatic nickel deposits are the norm, producing world-class
deposits with long productive mine lives. In WA, magmatic nickel deposits occur scattered throughout the
state, however, they have had a long and slow history of discovery, development and understanding. Its
only in recent years, since the discovery of the Nova-Bollinger deposit (2012) in the Fraser Range (which
had been historically explored for over 40yrs), that a string of magmatic nickel deposit have suddenly been
discovered. As komatiite sources dry up, focus and understanding around magmatic nickel deposits is
starting to gain momentum, resulting in exploration companies looking at various mafic-ultramafic bodies
which have had limited to no exploration completed over them to date. This is resulting in a new level of
understanding in WA on the formation/deposition of nickel-copper sulphides within magmatic rocks, leading
to a wave of new discoveries.
Interest in magmatic nickel-copper deposits have had a resurgence with the recent discoveries of magmatic
hosted sulphide mineralisation at Legend Mining’s (ASX:LEG) Rockford Project and Chalice Gold Mines
(ASX:CHN) Julimar Projects. A “Voisey Bay” magmatic style model has not been adequately explored
within the CBLC. This represents a compelling exploration target opportunity which the Company will
continue to aggressively pursue.
Competent Person Statement
The information in this announcement relating to Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves is based on
information compiled by Neil Hutchison, who is a consultant to Estrella Resources, and a member of The Australasian
Institute of Geoscientists. Mr. Hutchison has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of
deposit under consideration, and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the
2012 Edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resource and Ore Reserves”. Mr.
Hutchison consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in
which it appears.
The Board has authorised for this announcement to be released to the ASX.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Christopher J. Daws
Chief Executive Officer
Estrella Resources Limited
+61 8 9481 0389
info@estrellaresources.com.au
Share your feedback
Discover