An updated Leapfrog three-dimensional (3D) geological model for London-listed URU Metals’ Zeb nickel project, in Limpopo, South Africa, has been completed, with this being used to define, position and rank the company’s next drill programme.

The modelling was carried out by Atticus Geoscience Consulting and builds on the geological and geophysical interpretation and the first-stage Zone 2 mineralisation modelling, both announced last month.

The completed model integrates the project’s drill hole database and geological interpretation with the airborne magnetic, gravity and SpectremPlus electromagnetic (EM) datasets, together with the recently completed ground frequency-domain electromagnetic and gravity surveys.

It now also includes a 3D mineralised envelope built through the Zone 2 nickel/copper/platinum group elements (PGE) mineralisation from the existing drill hole assay data.

The drill programme arising from this work has two primary objectives – to define a maiden mineral resource on the Zone 2 nickel/copper/PGE mineralisation and to drill-test Target 1, the most prominent coincident geophysical anomaly on the project.

The holes drilled for the Zone 2 resource have also been designed to test the down-dip extension of the nickel/copper/PGE mineralisation.

The model supports the interpretation of Zone 2 as a coherent, laterally continuous nickel/copper/PGE horizon hosted in rocks interpreted to belong to the Critical zone of the Bushveld Complex, rather than a series of isolated intersections.

The Zone 2 mineralised envelope built from the existing assay data is spatially consistent with the modelled Critical Zone geology and remains open down dip.

The model indicates that a number of apparent gaps in the Zone 2 horizon correspond to positions where historical holes terminated above the target lithologies, rather than to an absence of mineralisation.

The primary objective of the programme is to define a maiden mineral resource on the Zone 2 nickel/copper/PGE mineralisation.

The second objective is to drill test Target 1, a discrete EM conductor coincident with a gravity and magnetic anomaly, located at the interpreted transition where the chonolith opens into a substantially larger intrusive body, a setting considered favourable for the accumulation of magmatic sulphides.

Target 1 lies within the same geological corridor as the project’s known semi-massive sulphide intersections in drill holes Z017, Z024 and Z031.

Next steps entail finalisation of the drilling contractor appointment and land access agreements; survey of final collar positions; mobilisation and start of drilling; and progressive reporting of assay results and resource modelling as data is received.

“The model has done what we asked of it. The geology, the drilling and the geophysics are now in one place and the holes have been positioned against real geological volumes rather than against standalone anomalies,” URU exploration manager Richard Montjoie highlights.

“Two things stand out. The first is that Zone 2 looks like a continuous horizon and a good part of the reason it looks patchy in the historical database is that the older holes simply stopped before they reached it. That is a very different problem to a discontinuous orebody.

“The second is that Zone 2 is still open down dip, which is why we have paired the resource holes – we can build the resource and test the depth extension at the same time,” he explains.

“The objective of this programme is a maiden mineral resource on Zone 2 and a first drill test of Target 1. Either outcome would change how this asset is understood; both together would change how it is valued and funded.

“The programme has been staged by priority so that the resource drilling and Target 1 come first. We will update shareholders on the contractor appointment and start dates in due course,” adds URU CEO John Zorbas.