Wrap Text
High-impact diamond drilling commences to test compelling nickel targets at IGO-ORN JV – Fraser Range, Australia
Orion Minerals Limited
Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Australia
Australian Company Number 098 939 274
ASX share code: ORN
JSE share code: ORN
ISIN: AU000000ORN1
High-impact diamond drilling commences to test compelling nickel targets at IGO-ORN
JV – Fraser Range, Australia
Multiple EM targets to be tested with initial drilling targeting a highly-conductive DHEM anomaly at Hook
- Logistics and services established to support a substantial diamond drilling program at the highly
prospective Pike North, Bilby and Hook (I & II) targets.
- The drilling will test down-hole and moving loop EM targets in an area where previous drilling and
geochemistry shows high potential for intrusions prospective for nickel and copper.
- Diamond drilling underway on the Hook target to test a highly conductive DHEM anomaly.
Hook is located 16km north-east of the confirmed Mawson nickel-copper discovery (Legend
Mining).
- Mawson has been confirmed as one of the most significant new discoveries in the Fraser Range since
Nova-Bollinger, with high-grade massive sulphide intercepts of up to 12.8m at 2.76% Ni and 1.36%
Cu from 234.9m reported in diamond hole RKDD008.
Orion’s Managing Director and CEO, Errol Smart, commented:
"We are really excited to have diamond drilling finally underway in the Fraser Range, with all logistics and services
now established by our joint venture partner IGO to support what we all hope could be a game-changing drill
program. There is no question that this is one of the hottest exploration districts in Australia at the moment and it is
rated very highly by IGO in terms of their global exploration portfolio.
“The results from previous drilling programs provide strong indications that we are in the right place to discover a
large magmatic nickel-copper sulphide system, as evidenced by the exciting Mawson nickel-copper discovery
just 16km south west of where IGO is now drilling at the Hook prospect. We are now all looking forward with great
anticipation to what this program could deliver and we will be keeping a close watch on progress over the coming
weeks.”
Orion Minerals Limited (ASX/JSE: ORN) (Orion or the Company) is pleased to advise that diamond drilling has
commenced to test a number of high-priority magmatic nickel-copper targets within the IGO-ORN Joint Venture
tenement E28/2367, located in the Fraser Range Belt of Western Australia (refer Orion ASX / JSE release 23 April
2020).
E28/2367 includes the Pike, Bilby (formerly Pike Eye), Pike North, Hook and Garfish targets, located along trend just
16km north-east of the recently confirmed Mawson nickel-copper discovery (Figure 1) where intersections of
massive sulphide, with high-grade including 12.8m at 2.76% Ni and 1.36% Cu from 234.9m reported in diamond
hole RKDD008 have been drilled (refer Legend Mining ASX release 21 April 2020).
IGO reported this week that the program has commenced with initial drilling underway at the Hook target. The
first hole is progressing steadily and, at the date of this announcement, was well advanced towards a planned
final depth of 650m. The hole is designed to test an 18,000S off-hole conductive response identified by a Down-
hole Electromagnetic (DHEM) survey in previously drilled hole 19AFDD1008, that had intersected amphibole-rich
gabbronorite and meta-gabbronorite zones intercalated with meta-sediment that is locally graphitic (refer Orion
ASX / JSE release 3 February 2020).
The intrusive rocks hosting nickel mineralisation at Legend Mining’s Area D discovery also occur within a bedded
meta-sediment package containing graphitic units.
Figure 1: IGO-ORN Fraser Range Joint Venture tenements showing regional aeromagnetic image and locality of the Pike Prospects relative to
nearby Legend Mining Mawson Prospect.
The diamond drilling targets have been delineated from previous several moving-loop electromagnetic (MLEM)
anomalies or DHEM conductors as well as encouraging geochemical results obtained from AC drilling and
geophysical inversion modelling. In addition to the current drill hole at Hook, the drill program includes (Figure 2):
• a single diamond hole (600m) at the Hook 2 target, designed to test a 7,000S plate. The previous drilling
did not intersect the electromagnetic (EM) plate but did intersect basement lithologies consisting of
banded graphite and pyrite bearing meta-sediment and meta-gabbronorite. The hole terminated in
meta-gabbronorite. The target area also shows a high potential to have prospective intrusion units based
on the IGO in-house geochemical and geological index;
• a single diamond hole (340m) designed to intersect a 6,000S EM plate identified by MLEM at Pike North;
and
• a single diamond hole (540m) at Bilby (formerly Pike Eye), targeting a discrete EM plate of 7,000S.
Figure 2: Aeromagnetic map showing the outline of tenement E28/2367 with prospects, interpreted structures, modelled EM plates and planned
diamond drilling shown.
For and on behalf of the Board.
Errol Smart
Managing Director and CEO
15 November 2021
ENQUIRIES
Investors Media JSE Sponsor
Errol Smart – Managing Director & CEO Nicholas Read Monique Martinez
Denis Waddell – Chairman Read Corporate, Australia Merchantec Capital
T: +61 (0) 3 8080 7170 T: +61 (0) 419 929 046 T: +27 (0) 11 325 6363
E: info@orionminerals.com.au E: nicholas@readcorporate.com.au E: monique@merchantec.co.za
Competent Person Statement
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Mr Errol Smart (Pr.Sci.Nat.),
a Competent Person who is a member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professionals, a Recognised
Professional Organisation (RPO). Mr Smart is the CEO and Managing Director of Orion. Mr Smart has sufficient experience that
is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify
as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the JORC Code. Mr Smart consents to the inclusion in this
announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
Disclaimer
This release may include forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements may include, among other things,
statements regarding targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of metal production and prices, operating costs and results,
capital expenditures, mineral reserves and mineral resources and anticipated grades and recovery rates, and are or may be
based on assumptions and estimates related to future technical, economic, market, political, social and other conditions.
These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-
looking statements inherently involve subjective judgement and analysis and are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and
other factors, many of which are outside the control of Orion. Actual results and developments may vary materially from those
expressed in this release. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-
looking statements. Orion makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this
release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. All information in respect of Exploration Results and
other technical information should be read in conjunction with Competent Person Statements in this release (where
applicable). To the maximum extent permitted by law, Orion and any of its related bodies corporate and affiliates and their
officers, employees, agents, associates and advisers:
• disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to the information to reflect any change in
expectations or assumptions;
• do not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the
information in this release, or likelihood of fulfilment of any forward-looking statement or any event or results expressed
or implied in any forward-looking statement; and
• disclaim all responsibility and liability for these forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, liability for
negligence).
Appendix 1: The following tables are provided in accordance with the JORC Code (2012) for the reporting of Exploration Results for Fraser Range Joint
Venture Project.
Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data
(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)
Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Sampling techniques • Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, • No intersections were reported in this release.
or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools
appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down
hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These
examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of
sampling.
• Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample
representivity and the appropriate calibration of any
measurement tools or systems used.
• Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material
to the Public Report.
• In cases where ‘industry standard’ work has been done this
would be relatively simple (e.g. ‘reverse circulation drilling was
used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to
produce a 30 g charge for fire assay’). In other cases more
explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold
that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or
mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant
disclosure of detailed information.
Drilling techniques • Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, • Diamond drill holes are being drilled by truck mounted rigs owned and
rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core operated by Frontline Drilling Australia Pty Ltd.
diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face- • Holes are collared from surface with PQ-core (85mm diameter) or PQ
sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by rock-rolled, which was then reduced to HQ-core (63.5mm diameter)
what method, etc.). and subsequently NQ2-core (50.6mm diameter) at depths directed by
the IGO geologist.
• All HQ and NQ core is oriented using REFLEX ACT III-H or N2 Ezy-Mark
orientation tools.
Drill sample recovery • Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample • For recovery checking and orientation marking purposes, the diamond
recoveries and results assessed. drill core is reconstructed into continuous runs in an angle iron cradle.
• Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure • Diamond drill recoveries are quantified as the ratio of measured core
representative nature of the samples. recovered length to drill advance length for each core-barrel run.
• Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and • Down hole depths are checked against the depth recorded on the
grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to core blocks, and rod counts were routinely carried out and marked on
preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. the core blocks by the drillers to ensure the marked core block depths
were accurate.
Logging • Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and • Qualitative logging of diamond drill core includes lithology, mineralogy,
geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate mineralisation, structures, weathering, colour and other features of the
Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical samples.
studies. • Quantitative logging is completed for geotechnical purposes.
• Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or • The total lengths of all drill holes are logged.
costean, channel, etc.) photography.
• The logging is considered adequate to support any downstream
• The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections estimation, mining and/or metallurgical studies.
logged.
Sub-sampling • If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core • The diamond drill core is generally subsampled into half-core using an
techniques and sample taken. automated wet-diamond-blade core saw. Exceptions are for
preparation duplicate samples of selected intervals, where quarter-core
• If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and
whether sampled wet or dry. subsamples are cut from the half-core. All samples submitted for assay
are selected from the same side of the core.
• For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of
the sample preparation technique. • The primary tool used to ensure representative drill core assays is
monitoring and ensuring near 100% core recovery.
• Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages
to maximise representivity of samples. • Laboratory sample preparation of the diamond drill core involves oven
drying (4-6 hrs at 95°C), coarse crushing in a jaw-crusher to 100%
• Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of passing 10 mm, then pulverisation of the entire crushed sample in LM5
the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for grinding robotic mills to a particle size distribution of 85% passing 75
field duplicate/second-half sampling. microns, and collection of a 200g sub-sample.
• Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the • Quality control procedures involve insertion of certified reference
material being sampled. materials (CRMs) and blanks at the pulverisation stage, and collection
and submittal of quarter-core field duplicates.
Quality of assay data • The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and • Bureau Veritas Perth does sample preparation checks for particle size
and laboratory tests laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is distribution compliance as part of routine internal quality procedures
considered partial or total. to ensure the target particle size distribution of 85% passing 75 microns
• For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, was achieved in the pulverisation stage.
etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including • Field duplicates, CRMs and blanks are routinely inserted at frequencies
instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors between 1:10 and 1:20 samples.
applied and their derivation, etc. • Laboratory quality control processes include the use of internal lab
• Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, standards using CRMs, blanks, and duplicates.
blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether • CRMs used to monitor accuracy have expected values ranging from
acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision low to high grade and the CRMs are inserted randomly into the routine
have been established sample stream to the laboratory.
• Following sample preparation and milling, all diamond drill core
samples are analysed for a 63-element suite:
o Fire assay of 40g charge with ICPMS finish – Au, Pd, Pt.
o Laser ablation of fused bead with ICPMS finish – Ag, As, Be, Bi,
Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Ho, In, La,
Lu, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, Re, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta,
Tb, Te, Th, Tl, Tm, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn, Zr.
o XRF analysis of powder fused with lithium borate flux including
5% NaNO3 – Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Si, Ti.
o Any intervals reporting >2000ppm Co, Cu, Ni or Zn were also
analysed by XRF of powder fused with lithium borate flux
including 5% NaNO3 – these XRF analyses were used in
preference to LA-ICPMS for calculations of mineralised
intervals.
• Loss on ignition is determined by robotic thermo gravimetric analysis at
1000?C.
Portable XRF Analysis • Instrument used, methodology applied, QC protocols and • No portable XRF analysis were reported.
usage/applicability of the data.
Verification of sampling • The verification of significant intersections by either independent • Significant intersections were checked by senior IGO geological
and assaying or alternative company personnel. personnel.
• The use of twinned holes. • No twinned holes have been completed to date, in this program.
• Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data • Logging is validated by an IGO on-site geologist and compiled into the
verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. IGO acQuire SQL drill hole database by IGO’s Geological Database
• Discuss any adjustment to assay data. Administrator.
• Assay data is imported directly from the digital assay files provided by
the contract analytical company Bureau Veritas Perth and are merged
into IGO’s acQuire SQL database by IGO’s Geological Database
Administrator.
• Data is backed up regularly on off-site secure servers.
• There have been no adjustments to the assay data.
Location of data points • Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar • Surface hole collar locations are determined using either a Leica
and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other GPS1200 (expected accuracy is better than ±0.25m for all three
locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. dimensions) or a handheld Garmin GPS unit and averaging for 90
• Specification of the grid system used. seconds with an expected accuracy of ±6m for easting and northing.
• Quality and adequacy of topographic control. • Drill path gyroscopic surveys are completed at either 10m or 12m
intervals down hole using a north seeking REFLEX GYRO SPRINT-IQ.
• The grid system is GDA94 Zone 51.
Data spacing and • Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. • The drilling is for exploration purposes and targets conductive plates
distribution generated from surface geophysics (moving loop EM).
• Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to
establish the degree of geological and grade continuity • Samples have been composited using length-weighted intervals for
appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve public reporting.
estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.
• Whether sample compositing has been applied.
Orientation of data in • Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling • Drilling from surface is designed to cross the conductive plate targets
relation to geological of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, at a high angle.
structure considering the deposit type.
• If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the • True-widths of the intervals are yet to be determined and all reported
orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have widths are intersection widths.
introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and • The possibility of bias in relation to orientation of geological structure is
reported if material. currently not known.
Sample security • The measures taken to ensure sample security. • The chain-of-sample custody is managed by IGO staff.
• Samples are stored at IGO’s currently active mine site designated the
Nova Operation (Nova). The drill core was cut and sampled at Nova
by IGO staff and contractors.
• Samples are placed in pre-numbered calico bags and further secured
in green plastic sample bags with cable ties. The samples are further
secured in a bulk bag and delivered to Bureau Veritas Perth by freight
contractor McMahon Burnett.
• A sample reconciliation advice is sent by Bureau Veritas Perth to IGO’s
Geological Database Administrator on receipt of the samples.
• Sample preparation and analysis is completed at the laboratory of
Bureau Veritas Perth.
• The risk of deliberate or accidental loss or contamination of samples is
considered very low.
Audits or reviews • The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and • No specific external audits or reviews have been undertaken at this
data. stage of the program.
Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results
(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)
Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Mineral tenement • Type, reference name/number, location and ownership
and land tenure including agreements or material issues with third parties such as
status joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title
Exploration Details JV
interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and Expiry Date JV % holding
Licence Manager
environmental settings.
IGO 70%
• The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with E28/2367 06/05/2025 IGO/Orion
any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the Orion 30%
area.
Exploration done by • Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. • Previous work on the tenements consisted of aeromagnetic/radiometric
other parties and DTM Aeromagnetic / Radiometric / DTM surveys, soil sampling,
geological mapping, ground EM survey.
• There has been previous sporadic air core, RC and diamond drilling
conducted.
Geology • Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. • The region is considered by IGO and Orion to have the potential to host
mafic or ultramafic intrusion related Ni-Cu-Co deposits based on the
discovery of Nova-Bollinger Ni-Cu-Co deposit and volcanic massive
sulphide deposit based on IGO’s Andromeda exploration prospect.
Drill hole Information • A summary of all information material to the understanding of • No significant intercepts were reported. Historic holes drilled on E28/2367
the exploration results including a tabulation of the following are listed below.
information for all Material drill holes:
• easting and northing of the drill hole collar
• elevation or RL (Reduced Level – elevation above sea level in
metres) of the drill hole collar
• dip and azimuth of the hole
• down hole length and interception depth
• hole length.
• If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the
information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract
from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person
should clearly explain why this is the case.
Data aggregation • In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, • No significant drill hole intercept is reported in this release.
methods maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of
high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should
be stated.
• Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high
grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the
procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and
some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in
detail.
• The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent
values should be clearly stated.
Relationship between • These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of • No significant drill hole intercept is reported in this release.
mineralisation widths Exploration Results.
and intercept lengths
• If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole
angle is known, its nature should be reported.
• If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported,
there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g. ‘down hole
length, true width not known’).
Diagrams • Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of • No significant intercepts is reported in this release.
intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being
reported. These should include, but not be limited to a plan view
of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.
Balanced reporting • Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not • Geochemical results reported does not refer to significant intervals of
practicable, representative reporting of both low and high mineralisation.
grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading
reporting of Exploration Results.
Other substantive • Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be • A surface EM survey and downhole EM surveys have identified three-
exploration data reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; dimensional geophysical targets, the location of which are included in
geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk the diagrams in the body of this release. Equipment used for surface EM
samples – size and method of treatment; metallurgical test are tabulated below.
results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock Configuration DH
characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating
substances. Loop Size 200m
Line spacing 200m
Station Spacing 100m
Total line kms 125.6
Smartem24
EMIT Fluxgate – Bz (up), Bx (east or 135 as
Receiver system
appropriate), By (north or 315 as
appropriate)
200m east or south east of Loop Centre
Sensor location
as appropriate
Transmitter IGO TEX 2/3
Effective current ~100A
Frequency 1Hz
• The planned specifications for downhole EM are tabulated below.
Configuration DHEM
Loop Size 400m x 400m
Station Spacing Nominal 10m
EMIT Digi Atlantis
Receiver system
3-Component DHEM Probe
IGO TEX 2/3 or DRTX-e (confirmed after
Transmitter
logging)
Effective current ~60A (confirmed after logging)
Frequency TBA (confirmed after logging)
Further work • The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for • Further drilling is planned to test the conductive plates generated from
lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out the EM surveys.
drilling).
• Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions,
including the main geological interpretations and future drilling
areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive.
Date: 15-11-2021 09:02:00
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