Adelaide, Oct 3, 2006 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Metallica Minerals Limited (ASX: MLM) is pleased to announce the results of its recently completed infill and step out drilling programme at the Bell South Lease, one of the four main deposits that comprise the NORNICO Nickel project in North Queensland. "The drilling results have confirmed the presence and continuity of high grade nickel cobalt mineralisation within the deposit" the Managing Director of Metallica, Mr Andrew Gillies said, "and shows that any future development of the NORNICO project will benefit from a high-grade, easily accessible nickel-cobalt core on which to draw on in its early years."
Metallica completed 139 holes (BCSL-036 to BCSL-174) totalling 3,199m of RC drilling at the Bell Creek South Lease within a 1.2km by 800m area. The drilling programme was primarily aimed at increasing the resource status of the Bell Creek South Resource from Inferred to an Indicated Resource status as part of Metallica's Pre-Feasibility study for the NORNICO Heap Leach Nickel Project.
The holes were drilled on a nominal 30m by 30m grid to infill areas where previous drilling on a wider 60m by 60m grid intersected zones of nickel mineralisation. Holes were also drilled on the edge of the deposit to close off zones of previously intersected mineralisation.
High-Grade Highlights include:-
- BCSL-048, 14m @ 1.45% Ni and 0.04% Co from 0m- BCSL-085, 17m @ 1.50% Ni and 0.07% Co from 8m- BCSL-106, 22m @ 1.94% Ni and 0.21% Co from 0m- BCSL-107, 22m @ 2.07% Ni and 0.09% Co from 0m- BCSL-114, 13m @ 1.50% Ni and 0.02% Co from 0m- BCSL-122, 24m @ 1.48% Ni and 0.02% Co from 0m- BCSL-130, 13m @ 1.54% Ni and 0.23% Co from 3m- BCSL-143, 15m @ 1.51% Ni and 0.06% Co from 5m- BCSL-148, 29m @ 1.40% Ni and 0.06% Co from 4m- BCSL-171, 24m @ 1.40% Ni and 0.05% Co from 8m
In addition to the RC drilling, thirty-two PQ diamond core holes were completed at the Bell Creek Northwest, North and South prospects (BCDDH-017 to BCDDH-048) for a total of 623m during August. These holes were designed to provide additional geological information on each of the Bell Creek deposits, provide samples for on-going metallurgical testwork and additional bulk density data for the deposits. The holes were also designed to infill areas between existing RC holes to test the geological and resource model for the prospects. Results from the diamond drilling are inline with, and in some cases exceeded, expectations. The higher grade intercepts are listed below.
- BCDDH-028, 34m @ 1.53% Ni and 0.35% Co from 0m- BCDDH-029, 14m @ 1.64% Ni and 0.03% Co from 14m- BCDDH-032, 17m @ 2.15% Ni and 0.05% Co from 1m- BCDDH-043, 40m @ 1.40% Ni and 0.04% Co from 8m- BCDDH-048, 16m @ 2.14% Ni and 0.04% Co from 1m
Drilling results from this current programme will be incorporated in an updated resource estimate for NORNICO which currently stands at 20.76Mt @ 0.78% Ni and 0.04% Co (Inferred) and was based on drilling completed to the end of 2005. Since this last resource estimate, Metallica has drilled 261 RC holes (6,126m) and 32 diamond holes (623m) into the four main NORNICO deposits (Minnamoolka, Bell Creek Northwest, North Lease and South Lease). The updated NORNICO Resource estimate will include a combined total of 729 drill holes. An updated resource statement is expected to be completed by November.
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