Westmoreland Finds High-Grade Copper

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32362, 30 July 1970, Page 20

Westmoreland Finds High-Grade Copper

(N.Z. Preu Auociation —

SYDNEY, July 28.

Westmoreland Minerals, Ltd, has announced that further drilling at its Bluff prospect, in the Northern Territory, had disclosed high grade copper values.

In their quarterly report, the directors say that in one hole, percussion drilled to a depth of 540 ft, the average copper value over a 240 ft interval from 300 to 540 ft was 5.42 per cent Copper values of up to 3.37 per cent were revealed in three other holes on the Bluff prospect, although a further two boles gave no encouraging results. The directors say that four holes, all encountered and bottomed in copper sulphides, were limited in depth by the rig.

netic feature 300 ft wide and four miles long has been delineated. Geochemical soil sampling has recorded anomalous nickel values of up to 3000 ppm, associated with the anomaly. Auger drilling, and detailed mapping are proposed for the immediate future. Two anomalies, examined to date at Tennant Creek, have disclosed favourable rock types, associated with copper and gold mineralisation. A further three anomalies, two of which are soil covered, are located over favourable rock types, and a follow-up is under way, the report says.

At the Redbank-Axurite prospect percussion drilling encountered water flowing in excess of 7000 gallons an hour. Sampling under these conditions was not representative, and the programme was temporarily abandoned. Further percussion and diamond drilling at the Bluff and Bedbank-Azurite prospect will begin next month.

At the Westmoreland-Amad-Paringa joint venture, at Sandstone West a mag