Terra Metals has extended its Southwest Main Sulfide Corridor at the Dante Project, defining a vast PGM-Cu-Ni-Co system open in all directions and starting near surface, boosting prospects for early-stage mining.
- Southwest Sulfide Corridor now over 950m strike and 700m width
- Broad mineralised intervals starting as shallow as 5m depth
- Discovery lies outside existing 148Mt Dante Mineral Resource
- Five drill rigs active with ongoing EM surveys generating new targets
- Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for late 2026
Southwest Discovery Unveils Vast Near-Surface Sulfide System
Terra Metals Limited (ASX:TM1) has revealed a substantial expansion of its Southwest Main Sulfide Corridor at the Dante Project, Western Australia, now stretching over 950 metres along strike, approximately 700 metres wide, and extending at least 750 metres down-dip from surface. Crucially, recent drilling has intersected mineralisation starting as shallow as 5 metres below surface, confirming the potential for a low strip ratio starter pit that could accelerate project economics.
Highlighting the scale, drillhole SWRC064 returned an impressive 157 metres at 0.73g/t PGE3 and 0.16% nickel from just 5 metres depth, including a 50-metre zone grading 1.27g/t PGE3. This broad mineralised envelope is notably thick compared to typical PGM reefs globally, aligning more closely with exceptional deposits such as South Africa's Platreef. The continuity and thickness of the sulfide system, hosted within an ultramafic package, mark a significant departure from Terra Metals’ existing 148 million tonne Dante Mineral Resource, positioning Southwest as a major growth avenue within the Jameson Layered Intrusion.
Drilling and Geophysics Drive Discovery Momentum
Five drill rigs are actively extending and infilling the Southwest discovery, with recent holes like SWRC063 and SWRC062 confirming continuous mineralisation over 150 metres and 80 metres respectively, including multiple higher-grade internal zones. The mineralised system remains open in all directions, with many assays still pending, particularly from deep diamond tails that will test the system's depth extent.
Complementing drilling, ground and downhole electromagnetic (EM) surveys continue to identify high-conductance anomalies indicative of potential massive sulfide accumulations. These geophysical targets are being progressively tested, underpinning a focused strategy to delineate higher-grade feeder zones within the broader sulfide corridor. Geological interpretation suggests the mineralised ultramafic package varies from 150 to over 500 metres thick and thickens down-dip, reinforcing the system's scale and complexity.
A New Style of Magmatic Sulfide Mineralisation in West Musgrave
The Southwest discovery represents a novel magmatic sulfide style within the West Musgrave region, distinct from the stratiform Cu-PGM reefs in the existing Dante resource. Mineralisation spans multiple mafic to ultramafic rock types, with sulfides occurring as disseminated, net-textured, and semi-massive intervals associated with titanomagnetite-ilmenite reef packages. The presence of elevated iridium-group PGEs (Rh, Ir, Ru, Os) in assays supports a high-temperature magmatic origin, consistent with repeated magma recharge events and sulfide liquid segregation.
Terra Metals’ CEO Thomas Line emphasised the exceptional thickness and continuity of the Southwest reef system, comparing it favourably to globally significant PGM reefs such as the Merensky and UG2 reefs in South Africa. He noted that the ongoing drilling program is several months ahead of assay results being reported, reflecting a strong operational momentum bolstered by recent technical and board appointments.
Pathway to Resource Definition and Development
With the Southwest discovery lying entirely outside the existing 148Mt Dante Mineral Resource, Terra Metals is advancing towards a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the area, targeted for late 2026. Planned work includes continued diamond drilling to test strike and depth extensions, further EM surveys to refine conductive targets, detailed structural and geological modelling, and heritage surveys to expand drill access.
Metallurgical testwork and flowsheet development are also underway, aiming to progress towards a Pre-Feasibility Study following the MRE. The company is simultaneously exploring for additional ultramafic PGM-sulfide units and analogues across its extensive 80-kilometre-long Dante tenure, seeking to leverage the Southwest discovery as a cornerstone for broader critical mineral development in the Jameson Layered Intrusion.
Bottom Line?
Terra Metals’ Southwest discovery is rapidly evolving into a major sulfide system with near-surface mineralisation, setting the stage for a maiden resource and potential early mining; assay results and deeper drilling will be pivotal in confirming its economic viability.
Questions in the middle?
- Will pending deep diamond tail assays reveal higher-grade zones at depth?
- How will metallurgical testwork influence processing strategies for the diverse sulfide styles?
- What are the implications of the new magmatic sulfide style for exploration across the Jameson Intrusion?