Galileo Mining Launches 5,000m Drill Program to Expand Norseman PGE Resource
Galileo Mining has kicked off a significant 5,000-metre aircore drilling campaign at its Norseman project, aiming to build on promising palladium and platinum results and grow its existing 1.27 million ounce palladium equivalent resource.
- 5,000m aircore drilling underway targeting PGEs at Norseman, WA
- Follow-up on peak assays of 4.1 g/t palladium and 2.5 g/t platinum
- Current JORC resource stands at 1.27 million ounces PdEq
- Callisto deposit discovery in 2022 underpins project potential
- Drilling to focus on Mission Sill prospect and other target zones
Drilling Resumes at Norseman PGE Project
Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX – GAL) has commenced a 5,000-metre aircore drilling program at its Norseman project in Western Australia, targeting the highly sought-after Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) including palladium, platinum, and rhodium. This campaign follows up on encouraging assay results from earlier drilling, which revealed peak palladium grades of 4.11 grams per tonne and platinum grades of 2.47 grams per tonne over one metre.
The Norseman project is anchored by the Callisto deposit, discovered in 2022, which marked a breakthrough as the first of its kind in Australia. The deposit currently holds a JORC-compliant resource of 17.5 million tonnes at 1.04 grams per tonne 4E (a combined measure of palladium, platinum, gold, and rhodium), translating to approximately 1.27 million ounces of palladium equivalent. Galileo’s strategy is to expand this resource through systematic drilling across multiple target zones.
Targeting New Discoveries and Resource Growth
The current drilling program is designed to test extensions of previously identified mineralisation, particularly around the NAC617 drill line where high-grade palladium and platinum assays were recorded. This zone remains open to the east, presenting a compelling opportunity to delineate the extent of the mineralised system before advancing to deeper reverse circulation drilling.
Additional focus areas include three confirmed target zones along the Mission Sill prospect, which stretches over a 12-kilometre strike length. These zones have shown anomalous PGE values in shallow drilling and are considered highly prospective for new discoveries. The program is expected to take approximately three weeks to complete, with assay results anticipated about four weeks after drilling concludes.
Strategic Importance and Regional Context
Galileo’s Managing Director Brad Underwood emphasised the significance of the Norseman project within Australia’s emerging PGE landscape. “Galileo is one of only a few companies with PGE resources in Australia,” he noted, highlighting the potential for the Norseman mineral belt to surpass current resource estimates substantially. The project’s 270 square kilometre tenure covers multiple prospects with potential for palladium, platinum, nickel, copper, cobalt, and rhodium mineralisation.
Beyond Norseman, Galileo also holds interests in the Fraser Range region, known for its nickel-copper sulphide deposits, including the nearby Nova mine. This diversified portfolio positions Galileo well within the critical metals sector, which is increasingly important for clean energy technologies and industrial applications.
Looking Ahead
While the current drilling program is exploratory, the combination of historical results and geological analogies to world-class deposits like South Africa’s Platreef provides a strong foundation for optimism. The market will be watching closely for assay results that could validate the potential for resource expansion and underpin future development plans.
Bottom Line?
Galileo’s latest drilling push at Norseman could redefine Australia’s PGE landscape if promising assays translate into resource growth.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the new drilling confirm extensions of high-grade palladium and platinum mineralisation?
- How might expanded resources impact Galileo’s development timeline and project economics?
- What are the implications for broader PGE supply given the scarcity of Australian deposits?
