Highlights
- Galileo Mining Ltd begins 5,000m drilling for palladium and nickel in Norseman.
- Focus on Mission Sill and Jimberlana, near the Callisto resource.
- Aims to explore new zones and regional mineralization.
Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has initiated a significant 5,000-metre aircore drilling campaign at its Norseman Project in Western Australia, setting its sights on palladium and nickel. With the Mission Sill and Jimberlana prospects positioned just 8 kilometers from the company’s 17.5-million-tonne Callisto resource, Galileo Mining has chosen to focus on previously unexplored or minimally drilled areas, particularly zones with only shallow laterite occurrences in past explorations.
The campaign’s primary targets, Mission Sill and Jimberlana, exhibit promising geological features, including ultramafic host rocks similar to those found at Callisto. The Mission Sill, in particular, shows an untested basal unit with encouraging geological structures. This area shares characteristics with the Callisto deposit, which was discovered in 2022, strengthening its potential for housing similar sulphide mineralization.
Galileo Mining’s managing director, Brad Underwood, highlighted the strategic intent behind the exploration. He noted that these target zones present a unique opportunity to expand their understanding of mineralization trends in the Norseman region. The company plans to examine the lower geological contact across an initial 3-kilometer strike length, which includes the Jimberlana Dyke intersection with the Mission Sill. This specific intersection is of interest due to its potential for sulphide mineralization, a sought-after feature in palladium and nickel exploration.
Mission Sill itself, located about 3 kilometers east of Callisto’s southern end, has been mapped extensively, revealing a 10-kilometer strike length with a basal position that has not been fully explored for palladium and platinum. Previous drilling in this area was limited to shallow laterite deposits and base metal targets, leaving deeper zones largely untapped. Initial results from early 2022 suggest the potential for significant platinum-group elements, with reported intervals such as 8 meters at 1.44 g/t of combined palladium and platinum, indicating fertile geological layers.
Galileo Mining’s current campaign aims to deepen their geological knowledge and unlock the untapped potential of Mission Sill. The company expects the drilling process to take approximately three to four weeks, with laboratory assay results anticipated around three to four weeks post-drilling.
The company remains financially prepared for these activities, holding approximately AUD 12 million in cash reserves, which ensures the campaign’s progression without financial interruptions. Galileo Mining’s exploration efforts at Norseman represent a strategic move to advance the understanding of mineral-rich zones within Western Australia’s resource landscape.