Galileo Mining’s Lantern prospect shines as nickel-copper sulphides are intersected

Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has intersected nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation in initial diamond drilling at Lantern prospect within the Fraser Range Nickel Belt of Western Australia. Two holes drilled into priority targets provide encouragement with one (LARC013D) intersecting 23 metres of heavily disseminated, blebby and banded nickel-copper sulphides in ultramafic host rock from Lantern South. The other (LARC008D) intersected 16 metres of disseminated and blebby sulphide within an overall 108-metre zone of disseminated sulphide in gabbronorite host rock from Lantern East. These results within prospective ultramafic and gabbronorite host rocks demonstrate the presence of the mineralising processes required to form magmatic nickel-copper deposits. “Exceptional potential” Galileo managing director Brad Underwood said: “This is a great result for our first diamond drilling program and demonstrates once again the exceptional potential of the area in which we are exploring. "Mineral exploration is a process of creating and testing targets and with each round of exploration we develop our knowledge of the ground.” Two holes completed The first two drill holes in the planned three-hole diamond drilling program at the Lantern prospect have been completed. Hole LARC013D targeted underneath disseminated sulphide mineralisation intercepted in previous drill hole LARC003. The approximate horizontal perpendicular distance between sulphide zones in holes LARC003 and LARC013D is 10 metres. Disseminated, blebby and banded sulphide mineralisation in drill hole LARC013D. LARC008D targeted an EM conductor on the margin of a major gabbronorite intrusion. The rig is now drilling the third hole of the program (LARC011D), which is a structural target also on the margin of the same large intrusion. Insights for next drilling Underwood said: “The Fraser Range discoveries at Nova (Sirius Resources) and at Mawson (Legend Mining Limited – ASX:LEG) both involved multiple drill programs over an extended period of time. “Our first diamond drilling program has substantially advanced Galileo along the exploration path and provided new insights to prepare for the next round of drilling to begin. “Samples from the current round of drilling will be sent to the laboratory for assay after structural and geological logging is complete.” Galileo prospect locations in the Fraser Range Nickel Belt. Additional surveys The source of a conductive anomaly adjacent to sulphide in LARC008D is yet to be identified suggesting potential for additional sulphide mineralisation. Additional downhole and surface EM surveys are planned at this hole to better model the bedrock conductor prior to further drill testing. The wide zone of disseminated sulphides intercepted is highly encouraging as it may represent a halo zone of sulphide mineralisation proximal to a zone of economic sulphides. No graphitic or sulphidic sediments were encountered and therefore any conductive response represents a high-priority target as it is more likely to be associated with sulphide-bearing intrusive rock units. Next steps Detailed structural and lithological logging of all drill core will be undertaken to understand the occurrence and nature of the mineralisation. This will greatly assist with future drill targeting at the Lantern prospect and within the surrounding area. Core will be submitted to the laboratory for assaying after the completion of logging.