Western Mines Reports High-Grade Nickel Sulphide Results Up to 2.26% Ni at Mulga Tank

Strong High-Grade Nickel Intervals Confirmed at Mulga Tank

Western Mines Group Ltd (ASX:WMG) has reported compelling new assay results from six reverse circulation drill holes at its flagship Mulga Tank Project in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields. The standout highlights include broad disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation with cumulative intervals up to 218 metres averaging around 0.26-0.31% nickel, alongside high-grade pockets reaching 2.26% nickel and 0.35% copper. These results provide fresh momentum for the project’s mineral resource expansion.

Drill holes MTRC073 and MTRC078 emerged as the most significant, returning cumulative intersections of 173m at 0.31% Ni and 182m at 0.30% Ni respectively. Within these broad zones, higher-grade intervals were recorded, such as 3m at 1.18% Ni including a 1m spike at 2.25% Ni in MTRC073, and 4m at 0.85% Ni including 1m at 2.26% Ni in MTRC078. These elevated grades are accompanied by meaningful cobalt, copper, and platinum group elements (PGEs), underscoring the mineralisation's economic potential.

Infill and Extension Drilling to Enhance Resource Confidence

The six holes reported span the tail end of the Phase 4 drilling program and the early Phase 5 campaign, primarily targeting infill within the current Mineral Resource Estimate and pushing mineralisation further south. Holes MTRC070 and MTRC072 were partly diamond-tailed to optimise drilling efficiency, while MTRC072 to MTRC075 formed an infill fence south of the existing resource boundary aimed at extending the known mineralised footprint.

Western Mines’ Managing Director Dr Caedmon Marriott noted that these broad intersections of disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation, combined with the high-grade zones, are expected to contribute positively to the next resource upgrade. The company is also focusing on thicker, higher-grade intervals near the surface, with a ~2% Ni zone traced over several hundred metres in the central part of the Mulga Tank Complex.

Geochemical Signatures Confirm Active Sulphide Mineralisation

Geochemical characterisation of the host ultramafic rocks shows they are predominantly high-temperature adcumulate dunite, favourable for hosting nickel sulphide deposits. The assay results exhibit elevated sulphur-to-nickel ratios alongside anomalous copper and PGEs, which are key indicators of “live” magmatic sulphide processes rather than nickel simply locked in olivine. This supports the interpretation of Mulga Tank as a hybrid Type 1/2 nickel sulphide system, combining large volumes of low-grade disseminated sulphides with zones of higher-grade massive sulphide accumulation.

Over 30 shallow intersections exceeding 1% nickel have been identified across roughly 2 square kilometres in the core of the Complex. These enriched sulphide zones are thought to represent sulphide accumulation at the base of mineralised magma flows, with semi-massive sulphide textures observed in corresponding drill chips. The current Phase 5 drilling is prioritising follow-up on these targets to delineate thicker, higher-grade zones.

Ongoing Drilling and Exploration Activities

The Phase 5 program continues with the rig recently completing the last RC hole in this batch before switching to diamond drilling for two shallow follow-up holes (MTRC076 and MTRC077) near previously identified high-grade zones. These diamond tails aim to provide better geological context and confirm sulphide textures seen in earlier RC chips.

Western Mines is also progressing an Environmental Impact Statement seismic survey planned for August, which will complement drilling data and enhance targeting. The company remains focused on systematically building its understanding of the Mulga Tank Complex’s nickel sulphide system, integrating each batch of assay results into exploration targeting models.