In July 2003 disseminated nickel-copper-platinum group element (Ni-Cu-PGE) sulphide mineralisation was discovered  

  at Collurabbie, followed by the first massive sulphide intersections of Ni-Cu-PGE at the Olympia prospect, in late 2004.

  The discovery at Olympia is significant in that it represents a style of mineralisation not encountered previously in

  Australia , and potentially a new Ni-Cu-PGE province. 

  The first disseminated nickel sulphide drill intersection at Olympia was made on August 17th 2004 soon followed by 

  a narrow massive sulphide intersection and then in November 2004 drilling intersected a thicker massive sulphide zone

 of nickel, copper and PGE's. The project attracted wide interest as a new greenfields discovery, remote from any

 previous nickel sulphide discovery in W.A. In addition to nickel and copper, the presence of platinum and palladium, up to

 several grams per tonne, was unprecedented in Australia in the context of its massive nickel and copper

 sulphide association. Peak results from this work are shown in Table 1 below.

  Table 1                                                                                          * Pt+Pd only

In 2005 work concentrated on surface exploration techniques during the WMC takeover by BHP Billiton.  This work included a detailed structural study, campaigns of ground electromagnetics (EM), and detailed soil geochemistry. This work supported the potential for mineralisation at a significant number of prospects across the project, (See Figure 2) of which Rhodes and Paros were tested during the recommencement of drilling in late 2005 and 2006, along with further deep drill testing at Olympia .

  At Olympia drilling continued to test size constraints at a broad spacing, away from previous mineralised intersections.

  Deep holes CLD179 and CLD178 were completed respectively.  CLD179 intersected a broad band of variably mineralised

  ultramafics.  At the upper (footwall) contact with the felsic porphyry, 3.9m of ultramafic stratigraphy was intersected,

  containing a moderate to weak amount of disseminated sulphides.  Below the porphyry 41.3m of variably mineralised

  ultramafic was intersected, including 7.3m of heavily disseminated sulphide mineralisation.

              Figure 2: Collurabbie prospects and magnetics    

Diamond hole CLD178 intersected similar geology to that in CLD179 however with overall less disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation.  Eleven metres of variably weak to moderately disseminated mineralised ultramafic rocks were intersected on the upper (footwall) contact of the porphyry.  Below the porphyry, 42m of trace to weakly mineralised ultramafic rocks were intersected. This work supports the continuance of the prospective mineralised horizon at depth, and shows an apparent thickening of the ultramafic host.

  At Rhodes , previous drilling intersected disseminated nickel sulphides, resulting in 4m @ 1.34% Ni, 0.24% Cu, 0.58 g/t 

  PGE’s in CLD153. The MLEM conductor to the north of this intersection, which also lies within the footprint of the PGE

  surface geochemical anomaly sitting over this area, still requires drill testing.