Major nickel-copper-PGE discovery? Impact Minerals unveils high-potential drill targets!

Impact Minerals has strengthened its exploration pipeline with the identification of a high-priority nickel-copper-PGE anomaly at the Caligula Prospect, a key target within its 100%-owned Arkun Project in Western Australia. This promising development comes after extensive geophysical and geochemical surveys, revealing a mineralisation signature comparable to some of Australia’s most significant nickel-copper-PGE sulphide deposits, including Chalice Mining Ltd’s Gonneville deposit and the Nova-Bollinger mine operated by IGO Ltd.

Situated approximately 150 km east of Perth, the Caligula Prospect drilling campaign is now being prepared, supported in part by a $180,000 co-funding grant from the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). The planned drill program will target the newly identified mobile magnetotelluric (MMT) conductor and an electromagnetic (EM) anomaly, both of which coincide with an extensive soil geochemistry anomaly rich in nickel, palladium, platinum, gold, chromium, and cobalt.

What Makes the Nickel-Copper-PGE Anomaly at Caligula Significant?

The discovery of this nickel-copper-PGE anomaly represents a crucial step in Impact Minerals’ broader Arkun Project exploration, as it refines its focus on highly conductive targets associated with magmatic sulphide deposits. The Caligula Prospect was previously identified as a large-scale copper-dominant geochemical anomaly, covering a 5,000-meter north-south and 2,000-meter east-west zone. However, recent soil geochemistry data have highlighted a distinct zone along its eastern margin with a metal assemblage characteristic of magmatic nickel-copper-PGE deposits.

The presence of elevated palladium (up to 111 ppb) and gold (up to 42 ppb), along with significant nickel and cobalt values, aligns closely with the structural and geological setting of world-class sulphide systems. These findings suggest that Caligula may host mineralisation similar to the high-grade Nova-Bollinger deposit, which has established itself as one of the most cost-efficient nickel sulphide operations globally.

How Do Geophysical Surveys Support the Drill Target Selection?

Impact Minerals has utilised a combination of soil geochemistry, regional magnetics, gravity surveys, MMT, and airborne EM data to refine its drill targets at Caligula Prospect. The MMT survey detected a highly conductive zone, interpreted as a potential host for massive sulphide mineralisation. Additionally, the airborne EM survey confirmed a coinciding anomaly within the same region.

The regional data indicate that the Caligula anomaly sits at the centre of an elliptical magnetic “eye” feature, a structural pattern often linked to folded mafic-ultramafic intrusions. These geological formations are well known for hosting nickel-copper-PGE deposits, further strengthening the case for drilling.

What Are the Next Steps for Caligula Prospect Drilling?

With a well-defined nickel-copper-PGE anomaly and strong geophysical evidence supporting the presence of sulphide mineralisation, Impact Minerals is advancing towards an initial drill program. The company has planned two deep drill holes to directly test both the MMT and EM conductors.

The drilling will be partially financed by the WA Government’s EIS grant, which matches Impact’s exploration expenditure dollar-for-dollar. The upcoming work program is expected to commence in the second quarter, following the closure of the company’s renounceable rights issue on March 21, 2025.

Managing Director Dr. Mike Jones highlighted that, alongside the imminent completion of the Lake Hope High Purity Alumina Project’s Pre-Feasibility Study, the company remains committed to advancing its Caligula Prospect drilling. He stated that the strong correlation between palladium-platinum-gold soil anomalies and key geophysical conductors makes this an exciting opportunity in the South West Yilgarn mineral province, an area increasingly recognised for its untapped nickel-copper-PGE potential.

What Does This Mean for Australia’s Nickel-Copper-PGE Exploration Landscape?

The identification of a potentially significant nickel-copper-PGE anomaly at the Caligula Prospect is a notable development within Australia’s rapidly evolving battery metals exploration sector. With global demand for nickel and platinum group elements (PGEs) continuing to rise due to their critical role in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and industrial catalysts, discoveries of this nature could prove pivotal.

Impact Minerals’ systematic approach—leveraging advanced geophysical technologies such as MMT surveys—positions it at the forefront of the next wave of nickel-copper-PGE discoveries in Western Australia. The South West Yilgarn region, once overlooked, is now emerging as a hotspot for magmatic sulphide exploration, thanks in part to the success of projects like Julimar and the ongoing advancements at Gonneville.

As drilling at Caligula Prospect moves forward, the industry will be watching closely to see whether Impact Minerals can translate these compelling exploration results into a major new discovery in Western Australia’s nickel-copper-PGE sector.