The Jimperding Metamorphic Belt is in the northern part of the...

The Jimperding Metamorphic Belt is in the northern part of the southwestern Yilgarn Craton and comprises Archaean gneisses, arkosic paragneiss and banded-iron formation, interleaved with a variety of garnetiferous orthogneiss and ultramafic units.A distinct bullseye total magnetic intensity anomaly measuring 1.5km in diameter has been identified at the Newleyine Prospect corresponding with confirmed ultramafic layered intrusive units and banded iron formation (BIF).Historic drilling of the Newleyine Prospect confirmed nickel grades to 1.18% and copper to 1,200 ppm within the relatively shallow lateritic zone.Primary Newleyine grades observed from drilling carried values of 0.49% Ni and 0.02% Cu Crucially, samples were not assayed for PGEs.As well as a high grade component in the lateritic material, three exploratory diamond drill holes completed by Australian Anglo American established the presence of widespread Ni-Cu-Fe sulphide mineralisation of 0.24% Ni and 172ppm Cu over drill widths of up to 240m through a dunite body. Samples were evidently not assayed for PGEs or gold.Further confirming the Ni/Cu anomalism, historic surface sampling of the Newleyine ultramafic intrusive by way of 90 rock chip samples returned assay values up to 0.52% Ni and 805 ppm Cu.Mandrake is currently assessing the Newleyine Prospect for Ni/PGE mineralisation analogous to that discovered at the Chalice Julimar discovery. The Julimar discovery has radically changed the geological interpretation and indeed commercial potential of the Jimperding metamorphic belt and associated ultramafic intrusives.In 1996, exploration by BHP near the Mt Pleasant prospect identified anomalous nickel mineralisation within a 10km long, north trending mafic amphibolite.