In recent years, exploration has defined an extensive copper-gold mineralised system at Wongan Hills and several newly-defined copper and coppergold geochemical anomalies within the Calingiri Project area to the south of Wongan Hills. During the past year initial geophysical and drilling evaluation has demonstrated the potential for extensive copper mineralised systems at the Bartel and Chapman Prospects.

Exploration activity involved interface drilling at Ablett and Chapman Prospects, induced polarisation (IP) geophysical surveys at Bartel and Chapman Prospects and additional regional surface geochemistry.

Initial reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Bartel (two holes – 10CARC001 and 002) and Chapman Prospects (one hole – 10CARC003) located within Dominion’s 100%-owned Calingiri Project has intersected broad zones of copper sulphide mineralisation in each of the three holes drilled (eg 124 metres grading 0.27% copper, including 75 metres grading 0.40% copper), with higher grade intersections including 5 metres grading 1.4%, 5 metres grading 1.0% and 12 metres grading 0.9% copper). The drill holes were designed to test chargeability anomalies outlined by reconnaissance Induced Polarisation (IP) surveys.

It should be noted that the copper mineralisation intersected in all three holes is open at depth. In addition, previous shallow ‘interface’ drilling at both the Bartel and Chapman Prospects indicates that the mineralisation intersected in the RC holes is potentially part of extensive mineralised systems.
Limited multi element assay results show an association of the copper mineralisation with gold and molybdenum at both prospects – eg 10CARC001 returned 5 metres grading 1.4% copper, 172 ppb gold and 1,100 ppm molybdenum from 33 to 38 metres downhole, and 10CARC003 returned 5 metres grading 1.0% copper and 180 ppb gold from 48 to 53 metres downhole.
The potential for further target definition using these and other potential ‘pathfinder’ elements is being evaluated.

Ablett Prospect

The Ablet Prospect anomaly is a coincident copper-gold-arsenic-lead (results for other elements, including zinc are pending) soil anomaly open to the south. The anomaly is 4km long and lies adjacent to a magnetic high lineament that appears to be truncated by a regional north-south fault zone. The coincidence of the anomaly with this geological occurrence is considered to be very favourable for a copper-gold system.

Bartel Prospect

At Bartel, the two holes (drilled 900 metres apart, respectively to 276m and 235m depth) were designed to test the southern and northern ends of the IP anomaly (as defined by the reconnaissance IP survey).

The generally disseminated style of the copper sulphide (chalcopyrite) mineralisation confirms that this mineralisation is the likely source of the IP (chargeability) anomaly. However, inconsistencies between the distribution of sulphides (as intersected in the drilling) and the previously modelled chargeability targets suggested that the reconnaissance IP data does not effectively define the full sulphide geometry.

Accordingly, more detailed IP surveying was trialled. Three detailed IP lines (at 100 metre spacing) positioned directly at and north of the section line of the southernmost hole (10CARC001) appear to significantly upgrade the chargeability target and suggest that the best part of the sulphide zone is located immediately west of hole 10CARC001 and is around 150m wide plunging gently to the north east. This better-defined IP anomaly, which is open in both directions, represents a priority target.

Chapman Prospect

The RC hole at Chapman (10CARC003) targeted an interpreted shallow, flat lying IP (chargeability) anomaly and intersected disseminated copper sulphide mineralisation (5m @ 1.0% copper from 48 metres) at the same horizon as the modelled reconnaissance IP response.
However continuing copper sulphide mineralisation in the hole, including the broad 75m @ 0.4% copper with an internal 12m @ 0.9% copper intercept at 99m, was not predicted from the reconnaissance IP survey. Further
evaluation, involving both detailed IP and drilling, is again a high priority.

These results at Bartel and Chapman are believed to significantly upgrade the prospectivity, not only of these prospects, but also of the extensive project area (30km x 20km). The prospects are 15 kilometres apart and there are well defined copper geochemical anomalies, both between the prospects and elsewhere within the project, that have not been evaluated by either IP surveying or drilling. In addition geochemical coverage over much of the area has still to be carried out.
Follow up at these and other prospects will be a priority focus during the coming year.