Drilling in progress at Skeleton Rocks, Western Australia. Source: Sipa Resources
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  • Sipa Resources (SRI) confirms the potential for nickel mineralisation at its wholly-owned Skeleton Rocks project in Western Australia
  • Further analysis of historical surface sampling and shallow drilling identified elevated nickel, as well as other elements, in the project area
  • Sipa Managing Director Pip Darvall says several new opportunities lie within the northern part of Skeleton Rocks
  • Further surface samples have now been sent for assay, and the company says historical drilling by Westonia Mines will be followed up in future programs
  • Shares in SRI close grey at 2.8 cents on Monday afternoon

Sipa Resources (SRI) has confirmed the potential for nickel mineralisation at its wholly-owned Skeleton Rocks project in Western Australia.

The confirmation comes from a review by Sipa of historical surface sampling and drilling that identified nickel, as well as other elements, within the project area.

Assays returned results up to three metres at 0.65 per cent nickel from 36 metres.

The company said several “look-alike” magnetic anomalies along-strike were “logical” targets for drill testing.

Past assays from surface sampling carried out by Westonia Mines returned anomalous nickel-cobalt-chromium platinum group element (PGE) results, which led to follow-up drilling in 2006, where 15 reverse circulation (RC) holes were completed over the Jilbadgie nickel prospect.

Sipa Managing Director Pip Darvall said several new opportunities lay within the northern part of Skeleton Rocks.

“A detailed review of historic work has confirmed the potential for nickel mineralisation beneath, and along-strike from, historic drilling,” Mr Darvall said.

“Together with the next round of sample results in connection with the lithium anomalism observed in our recent drill programs, we look forward to providing more updates as the Skeleton Rocks exploration programs advance.”

Additionally, Sipa’s drill programs in the past have identified lithium-caesium-rubidium anomalism. The company said previous efforts continued to highlight focus areas for exploration, and additional samples had been collected across the project and submitted for assay.

The company confirmed previous pegmatites logged through the historical drilling by Westonia Mines would also be followed up in future programs.

Skeleton Rocks lies between Great Eastern Highway and the Mt Holland lithium project, being developed as part of a joint venture between Wesfarmers and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM).

Shares in SRI closed grey at 2.8 cents on Monday afternoon.

SRI by the numbers
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