Adavale gears up for drilling at African nickel projects

Adavale Resources is mobilising its rig to the Kabanga Jirani and Luhuma nickel sulphide projects in Tanzania, ready to kick off a 6,000-8,000m RC/diamond drill program in October.

The drill program will initially focus on seven high-priority nickel target areas based on coincident Heli-borne Electro Magnetic (HEM) and gravity anomalies from nine recent HEM surveys:

HEM survey areas 1, 2 and 3 (within the Luhuma extension);
HEM survey area 4 in Kabanga East and;
HEM survey areas 7, 8 and 9 in Kabanga West (adjacent to Kabanga Nickel Limited).

Adavale Resources (ASX:ADD) executive director David Riekie says drill testing multiple targets is an exciting phase for the company.

“We are preparing for a highly active exploration period in the December quarter and expect a similar level of regular updates to the market,” he said.

Kicking off at Kabanga West

The drill rig will initially mobilise to Kabanga West to evaluate the HEM areas 7-9, which are on a similar latitude to the neighbouring 58Mt at 2.62% nickel, Kabanga Nickel deposit.

“We plan to test a number of anomalies identified within the broader target areas with diamond drill holes up to 500m deep, typically targeted at deeper coincident gravity and EM anomalies,” technical director John Hicks said.

Pic: HEM survey area plan showing broad internal target areas and the location of the Kabanga nickel sulphide deposits and associated mafic intrusions.

Hick says shallower RC holes may be drilled into individual gravity anomalies, to confirm the presence of prospective mafic-ultramafic bodies at depth.

“Down hole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys will be performed on most holes to aid ongoing drill targeting,” he said.

Interpretation and modelling of the HEM data therefore remains ongoing, with the company expecting to make adjustments to the program as data comes in.

This article was developed in collaboration with Adavale Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.