Nelson Resources (ASX:NES) completes Cinnamon Property soil sampling program in Nevada
Nelson Resources has completed a soil sampling program across the Ophir and Sheba targets at the Cinnamon Property in Nevada, USA.
The program collected 204 multi element soil samples on a systematic 50m × 100m grid along the Luning Fencemaker Thrust and was designed to provide target scale geochemical information over the Ophir and Sheba targets.
Highlights
Soil sampling program completed at the Ophir and Sheba targets, with 204 multi element soil samples collected on a systematic 50m × 100m grid along the Luning Fencemaker Thrust.
Sheba reconnaissance rock chips returned results of up to 1.95g/t Au, 40.3g/t Ag, 0.287% Cu, 0.98% Zn and 6.63% Pb, accompanied by elevated pathfinder elements including As, Sb, Hg and Cd.
Ophir remains a priority near surface tungsten target, with intense epidote chlorite alteration, iron oxide response, favourable Luning Formation limestone and a newly mapped quartz monzonite intrusion.
Results from the soil program will be integrated with rock chip, geophysical and hyperspectral data to prioritise and refine the next phase of detailed mapping and sampling at Sheba and Ophir.
The Cinnamon Property is located in Mineral County, Nevada, within the Pilot Mountains Mining District, Walker Lane.
The project comprises 186 BLM lode claims and is immediately west of Guardian Metal Resources’ Pilot Mountain Tungsten Project.
Nelson identified the Ophir and Sheba targets through evaluation of integrated geophysical, hyperspectral and field datasets, with the company stating the targets form part of the same broad intrusive related hydrothermal system.
Since acquiring the Cinnamon Property, Nelson has compiled and integrated high resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric geophysics, hyperspectral AVIRIS alteration mapping, and reconnaissance mapping and sampling.
The Sheba target is located on the footwall side of the Luning Fencemaker Thrust and coincides with potassic and magnetic anomalies.
Hyperspectral mapping identified epidote chlorite and high aluminium muscovite alteration flanking these geophysical features.
Initial reconnaissance mapping identified narrow veins and faults cross cutting a volcanic breccia, with rock chip samples returning results of up to 1.95g/t Au and 40.3g/t Ag, alongside 0.287% Cu, 0.98% Zn and 6.63% Pb.
These results were accompanied by elevated pathfinder elements including As, Sb, Hg and Cd, which the company reported as consistent with a shallow to distal epithermal environment relative to an underlying intrusive hydrothermal source.
At Ophir, Nelson identified a near surface target in the southern part of the property where intense epidote and chlorite alteration flank a large iron oxide hyperspectral footprint within favourable limestone host rocks.
Reconnaissance mapping verified the alteration and identified a previously unmapped quartz monzonite intrusion, with Ophir remaining a priority target for tungsten skarn mineralisation.
Nelson Non Executive Chairman Gernot Abl said the completed soil sampling program would provide a basis for prioritising and refining the next phase of detailed work at both targets.
“Once the laboratory results are received and integrated with our existing rock-chip, geophysical and hyperspectral datasets, we will have a much clearer basis on which to prioritise and refine the next phase of detailed work at both targets.”
The soil sampling program was designed to define the geochemical footprint at Ophir, map the distribution and intensity of pathfinder elements including W, Cu, Sb, Bi, As, Ag and Au, characterise skarn horizons adjacent to the quartz monzonite intrusion, and integrate new soil geochemistry with previous mapping, rock chip results, geophysics and hyperspectral mapping.
Samples were submitted to ALS Minerals in Reno, Nevada for ultra trace level multi element geochemical analysis using industry standard methods.
Nelson’s next work programs include detailed prospecting, geological mapping and systematic rock chip sampling at the Sheba copper gold target, detailed prospecting and sampling at the Ophir tungsten target, and structural mapping and trace element geochemical sampling at Levant, Malabar and Serica.
The primary exploration model at Cinnamon is for intrusive related tungsten skarn mineralisation, with potential for associated polymetallic mineralisation including copper, silver and zinc.
The exploration model includes favourable carbonate host rocks, intrusive trends, magnetic features, alteration responses and surface geochemistry as key target vectors.
Results from the soil sampling program will be integrated with geological mapping, prospecting, rock chip sampling, geophysical and hyperspectral datasets to prioritise and refine the next phase of detailed mapping and sampling at Sheba and Ophir.