Strategic electromagnetic geophysical prospecting across a belt - an example over the Albany Fraser Orogen

Summary

Nickel exploration routinely utilises electromagnetic (EM) techniques as a direct detection tool. Independence Group is currently exploring a large tenement holding in the Albany Fraser Orogen in Western Australia that contains its flagship Nova magmatic nickel-copper-cobalt deposit. As a first-pass exploration stage, large-scale high-resolution airborne EM is being flown over the project using the Spectrem system. Interpreted discrete basement conductors are then followed up with ground EM surveys. In areas of conductive regolith cover identified from the airborne EM surveys, other datasets are used to determine if subsequent EM is warranted. Such methods include regional aircore geochemistry and/or through favourable lithostructural settings interpreted from high resolution potential field datasets. This program of regional data collection is nearly complete, and a follow-up drilling program is starting in earnest this year. This paper includes a couple of examples of the geophysical targets drill tested to date.

• electromagnetics
• nickel
• exploration