Maximus Resources intersects nickel-copper sulphides at Hilditch West with scandium to boot

Maximus Resources Ltd (ASX:MXR) has intersected encouraging nickel sulphide assay results from its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drill program at the Hilditch West target in Western Australia. The company’s six-hole, 624 metre RC campaign has successfully intersected shallow, highly anomalous nickel-copper-cobalt and scandium across all three drill sections. These drill sections cover 500 metres of strike along the extensive alteration domain at the Hilditch West target which is 25 kilometres from BHP Group Ltd’s (ASX:BHP) Kambalda Nickel Operation. Three mineralised zones have been identified with significant assays including: 5 metres at 1.2% nickel, 0.23% copper, 0.08% cobalt from 43 metres; 2 metres at 1.5% nickel, 0.03% copper from 87 metres; 19 metres at 0.4% nickel, 0.1% copper, 2.4g/t silver from 107 metres; 12 metres at 0.5% nickel, 0.06% copper from 18 metres including 2 metres at 0.8% nickel, 0.2% copper, 0.06% cobalt from 21 metres; and 5 metres at 0.3% nickel, 0.7% copper, 0.09% cobalt from 3 metres. In addition to the strong base metal intercepts, several broad, highly anomalous scandium zones were intercepted, proximal to the nickel-copper-cobalt intercepts, including: 22 metres at 37ppm scandium from 1 metre including 8 metres at 57 ppm scandium from 14 metres; and 17 metres at 38ppm scandium from 31 metres including 6 metres at 55 ppm scandium from 38 metres. “Highly encouraging” Maximus Resources managing director Tim Wither said: “These highly encouraging nickel-copper-cobalt and scandium intersections are a fantastic start to developing our understanding of the Hilditch West target. “Sulphide mineralisation has been intersected over a 500 metre strike and the intersections from these initial six shallow RC holes are both encouraging, and very early stage providing potential for major upside. “Including a legacy 9m @ 1% nickel intersection, 250 metres to the south, the recent drilling provides indications of 750 metres strike of mineralisation.  “Hilditch West is now a very compelling nickel-sulphide target and will be bolstered by the recent geophysics programme which overlaps the target. “We are eagerly awaiting the EM modelling which may guide us towards a potential source of the sulphide mineralisation.” Hilditch West upgraded Maximus’ drilling program has upgraded Hilditch West as a polymetallic target with significant mineralisation encountered in four of the six holes drilled in both oxidised and sulphide material. Three discrete nickel-cobalt zones have been interpreted within the central section with coincident copper in two of those zones, which appears to be remobilised within the broad interpreted shear zone. High-grade scandium Scandium metal has strategic importance for the production of specialized aluminium alloys, such as those used within the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) market. The addition of scandium increases aluminium’s strength similar to that of titanium and steel alloys. Promisingly, economic concentrations of scandium are rare, limiting supply, resulting in high market prices. FLEM survey completed Maximus has completed a ground electromagnetic geophysics survey at the Hilditch West target. The Fixed Loop Electromagnetic (FLEM) survey is designed to evaluate geology up to 500 metres in depth, which is considered to be adequate to evaluate the mineralisation potential of any deeper stratigraphy. With the field geophysics work completed, Maximus expects the interpretation/modelling of the data to be received within two to three weeks. - Ephrems Joseph