The Pioneer Joint Venture Project is located approximately 125km SSE of Kalgoorlie on the Eastern Flank of the Pioneer Dome. BHPB has the first right of refusal to negotiate an off take agreement to treat any nickel deposits found in the southern part of the project area. Recently an 80% interest in the project was sold to Panoramic Resources Limited. Pioneer retains a 20% free carried to decision to mine interest.
The Project covers the southern extensions of the Widgiemooltha Greenstone belts that host the Miitel. Redross Wannaway and Mt Edward Sulphide nickel deposits.
Previous exploration by Newmont during the 1970s identified the JH and BB prospects. A non JORC resource of 32500t grading 1.1% Ni was calculated for the JH Prospect.
Since the 1970s WMC Resources completed geochemical sampling and RC drill testing of geochemical anomalies followed by DHTEM surveying with limited successes.
Heron Resources and private groups tested the ground for gold mineralisation during the 1990s.
Since Pioneer acquired the project, work focused on evaluation of the JH and BB Prospects including detailed geological mapping, moving and fixed loop EM surveying and RC/DDH drilling. The initial drilling at JH identified narrow zones of low grade nickel sulphide mineralisation. While testing the down plunge extensions of JH, a zone of massive to matrix nickel sulphides was intersected grading 3m at 4.0% Ni, 0.21% Cu and 1556ppm Pt+Pd. This surface was named the E1 surface. Subsequent drilling and downhole EM testing of the surface showed it to be thin with limited down dip extent. Given the limited success, a decision was made to farm out the project.
The nickel sulphide mineralisation is hosted within a sequence of mafic to ultramafic units structurally emplaced against the intrusive Pioneer Dome. The mafic ultramafic sequence is overlain by feldspathic sediments that gradually grade into a predominately siltstone felsic volcanic sequence. The JH and BB nickel sulphide mineralisation is located on the base of the second ultramafic flow. The E1 surface is located internally within the third ultramafic unit. The granite greenstone contact has been intruded by muiltiple phases of pegmatite intrusion. Nickel sulphide mineralisation at JH and BB appears to be associated with the second ultramafic flow, that stope out substantial sections of the contact. Based on the drill data the ore channel at JH has a shallow plunge to the south.