Talisman Mining Ltd is pleased to advise that a drilling programme has commenced within the Southern Volcanics at its 100%-owned Springfield Copper-Gold Project in Western Australia.  The Southern Volcanics comprise a thick sequence of prospective Narracoota basalts, volcanic sediments and dolerites in close proximity to the Goodin Fault Zone (GFZ) – a major basin boundary structure and possible focus for VHMS and other copper (+/- gold) rich mineralizing fluids. The 11 hole Reverse Circulation (RC) programme will test two electromagnetic (EM) targets at The Kink and a combination of four geochemical and geophysical target zones identified and validated by recently completed geophysical and geochemical surveys.

Drill Targets

The six targets that are being tested by this drill programme have been identified as a result of extensive work completed by Talisman in 2012/13, including geological mapping, surface lag and soil sampling, geochemical drilling, airborne versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEM) and detailed fixed loop electro-magnetic (FLEM) surveys, plus an expert external review. Only limited RC drilling has been completed across the Southern Volcanics historically with no RC drilling localised on the current drill targets.

VTEM-1 Drill Target

VTEM-1 is a clear late-time VTEM anomaly persisting to channel 43 on several lines, but with a relatively discrete core (200m-300m) which may indicate the presence of multiple layered conductors possibly associated with  metallic conductive bodies . A single 150m RC drill-hole and subsequent down-hole electro-magnetic (DHEM) survey is proposed to test a modelled EM plate which is interpreted to be located at a depth of approximately 120m.

VTEM-2 Drill Target

VTEM-2 is located within The Kink Prospect of the Southern Volcanics and was identified initially by a VTEM survey and subsequently confirmed by a FLEM survey.
The FLEM survey was designed to test for copper-gold mineralisation similar to that at the DeGrussa Mine at a depth beyond the resolution of the VTEM survey.  Anomalous copper results in nearby wide-spaced aircore drilling also provided encouragement for mineralization in the area. The anomaly identified at VTEM-2 appears to be related to a prominent NNW-trending structural zone controlling a palaeo-drainage system with shallow, weakly conductive material. However, some unusual deeper conductive features were observed in the FLEM survey over the area. 

Instead of the EM data displaying one primary signal from the shallow drainage response, secondary anomalies were detected within the late-time channels. It was not possible to trace any continuity to the anomalies due to noisy ground polarisation effects, but 3D inversion of the EM data was completed which defined a more strongly conductive unit in the south-east corner of the survey. A single RC drill hole is proposed to test the core of the 3D EM inversion model to a depth of 150m and will also be surveyed using DHEM techniques.

The Wedge Prospect Drill Targets

Recent surface lag and soil sampling over the Wedge has defined several coherent zones of elevated copper values greater than 300ppm (and anomalous gold-zinc-cobalt), with copper values reaching a maximum of 707ppm Cu. Subsequent detailed surface mapping indicates that the elevated multi-element geochemistry and associated VTEM targets may be related to structurally-controlled copper mineralization connected with the Goodin Fault Zone where it transgresses permissive iron and sulphide-rich host rocks. Nine angled RC drill holes, on three traverses for a total of 1,350m, are proposed as part of the current programme to test the four target zones identified along the Goodin Fault Zone.