PNG Copper drills 1.78% nickel over 10.7 metres at Doriri, Papua New Guinea
PNG Copper Inc. [PNGC-CSE] reported assay results from the final drill hole of the recently completed four-hole drill program at the Doriri nickel-palladium-platinum prospect in Mount Suckling, Papua New Guinea.
Highlights included 14.10 metres of 0.72% nickel, 0.53 g/t PGM in DOD008 from 13.35 metres and 10.70 metres of 1.78% nickel, 0.67 g/t PGM in DOD003 from 2.80 metres (best intersection).
All eight holes intersected significant nickel and platinum-palladium. Airborne and ground magnetics suggests 650 metres of continuation to the east. Preliminary metallurgy study planned to test for recovery of Ni, Pt, Pd.
David Lindley, Interim CEO and responsible for the drilling of the present drill holes at Doriri and the previous 2012 drill holes, said, “The results from DOD008 continue to indicate the presence of encouraging nickel-palladium-platinum-cobalt mineralization at Doriri. The mineralization in DOD008 is associated with a long interval of brecciation and rhythmically interlayered nickel-chlorite and magnetite, textures typically found in low temperature epithermal systems and consistent with Doriri being a truly unique accumulation of metals. Nickel, palladium, platinum and cobalt are all metals of the ‘new economy’, belonging to either of the battery, magnet, speciality or critical material categories.”
Drillhole DOD008 intersected a 14.10 metres (13.35 m-27.45 m) width of nickel-palladium-platinum mineralization grading 0.72 % nickel, 455 ppb palladium and 77 ppb platinum, including a 4.30-metre interval grading 1.17% nickel, 800 ppb palladium and 146 ppb platinum. DOD008 on Section 10000N was designed as a deeper test beneath the previously completed Costean I, which assayed 11 metres of 1.31 % nickel, 944 ppb palladium and 81 ppb platinum, and two previously completed cored drill holes (DOD003 and DOD004). Placement of the drill rig was constrained by very steep slopes and proximity to streams prone to flash-flooding. The dip of the drill hole was steepened to 75â—¦ to accommodate the drill hole as best as possible with respect to previously completed holes.
Airborne magnetics over the Doriri nickel-palladium-platinum prospect
Doriri was included in a November-December 2010 helicopter-borne detailed low-level airborne geophysical survey completed by contractor Fugro Airborne Surveys Pty Ltd and commissioned by Papuan Precious Metals Ltd. The survey acquired magnetic and radiometric data along north-south flight lines with a 200-metre spacing and a nominal 60-metre mean terrain clearance. Only two flight lines passed over the 425-metre long lode.
Doriri is a very low temperature accumulation of nickel, palladium and platinum located in the mafic and ultramafic rocks of the Mt Suckling massif in southeastern Papua New Guinea. It is a shear zone-hosted oxide-rich deposit and there is no other documented mineral occurrence with a similar geology. The mineralization has an average width of 10-15 metres and has been previously mapped over a strike length of 520 metres. It remains open ended in both directions. Mineralization crops out at the surface and remains open at depth.