WA1 Resources (ASX: WA1) has commenced drilling at the P2 carbonatite within the West Arunta project in Western Australia.
A four-hole reverse circulation program will be carried out at the target, which was discovered during a maiden drilling program last year.
P2 was discovered with a single drillhole designed to test the margin of the P2 gravity and magnetic anomalies which intersected niobium within an interpreted carbonatite complex.
The hole returned intercepts of 12 metres at 0.66% niobium pentoxide from 61m; 54m at 0.62% niobium pentoxide from 162m; and 1m at 1.72% niobium pentoxide from 215m.
Second carbonatite
Managing director Paul Savich said the discovery presents an opportunity to define a second mineralised carbonatite in addition to the project’s Luni target.
“P2 is characterised by a very discrete, semi-coincident gravity and magnetic anomaly which is proximate to a significant regional structure,” he said.
“The objective of this drill program is to complete four well-planned holes to improve our understanding and provide a sufficient dataset to enable planning for any potential drill-out of P2.”
Ground-based survey
In December, WA1 completed a ground-based gravity survey at West Arunta to improve the resolution of gravity station coverage from 400m x 400m to 100m x 50m.
The gravity anomaly highs are believed to broadly define the lateral extent of the P2 carbonatite complex.
The western gravity response was reported to be more subdued with a northeast-trending structural break evident in the gravity anomaly.
Beyond the enriched/oxide zone of the single drillhole, WA1 said there was “generally an improvement” in mineralisation downhole.
The end of hole returned the highest niobium grade seen at P2 and is believed to represent an “excellent target” for follow-up drilling.
Passive seismic survey
WA1 has also completed a ground-based passive seismic survey comprising 10 north-to-south oriented lines acquired on a 200m line spacing and an along-line station spacing of 50m.
One of the survey lines was captured over PARC003 to calibrate lithology and assist with depth conversion of the survey data.
Luni niobium
Last month, WA1 hit high-value niobium at the Luni discovery and extended the known niobium footprint at West Arunta.
Highlight hits included 41m at 2.4% niobium pentoxide, 18m at 2.2% niobium pentoxide, 13m at 1.4% niobium pentoxide; and 24m at 1.1% niobium pentoxide.
