Nickel Projects
Nickel-Copper-PGM Exploration at Yarrabubba and Quinns Lake
Prior to the formation of the YB Nickel Joint Venture there had been no previous exploration for nickel within the Yarrabubba and Quinns Lake Project areas. A detailed airborne magnetic survey done over the seven tenements of the YB Nickel Joint Venture (funded by CITIC) has defi ned in greater detail the extremely large magnetic low. This is at least 40 kilometres long and up to 10 kilometres wide, and is interpreted to be caused by both the meteorite impact and by subsequent related hydrothermal alteration. Interpretation of this data by Impact has also revealed associated multiple radial and concentric structures prospective for Sudbury-style deposits of nickel, copper and PGM's.
It has been estimated that a significant amount of post-impact erosion has occurred at Yarrabubba, such that potential nickel deposits of the Sudbury Footwall and Offset Dyke types may be close to surface. CITIC has committed to fl ying a systematic airborne electromagnetic (EM) survey over a part of the project area. This is targeted at an area of about 220 square kilometres that contains multiple closely spaced structures as well as zones of intense demagnetisation, to detect buried bodies of conductive sulphides. Any buried conductors that are located will be further defined by soil geochemistry and ground geophysical programs in order to accurately locate drill targets.
In the event that the airborne EM survey currently planned does not locate buried conductors, then further EM surveys will be flown over selected parts of the remaining 1,100 square kilometres of tenements.