Mining company set to conduct aerial survey in search of precious and base metals in the Wheatbelt

Mining company Anglo American is undertaking an aerial survey across the Shire of Narrogin and the greater Wheatbelt in search of base and precious metals. Anglo American has permits to explore 10,000sqkm of land and conduct low-impact data collection activities to find mineral deposits containing battery metals such as copper and nickel. The Southwest Yilgarn Exploration Project will involve the single pass of a helicopter flying from Cunderdin to Dumbleyung along spaced flight lines that are 400m apart. The helicopter will be fitted with electromagnetic instruments to conduct an airborne electromagnetic survey which uses non-invasive technology to map rock types and minerals hundreds of metres underground. The survey crew flying the helicopter will tow a transmitter and receiver loop about 35m above the ground and might heighten the flight path depending on livestock, yards and sheds. The aerial survey was scheduled to be held in the Shire of Narrogin for about three weeks this month, according to the Shire. “Anglo American has been granted permits to explore an area of around 10,000sqkm in the Wheatbelt region of WA, about 230km east of Perth,” Anglo American discovery manager Australia David Wood said. “The Southwest Yilgarn Exploration Project is early-stage exploration work and includes low-impact data collection activities over the next 12-18 months. “The project is exploring for mineral deposits containing base and precious metals including battery metals such as copper and nickel.” Anglo American is a global mining company that produces diamonds, copper, platinum group metals, iron ore, metallurgical coal and nickel. In Australia, its operations are focused on steelmaking metallurgical coal across five mines in Queensland and a copper exploration project in north-west Queensland. The South West Yilgarn Exploration Project started in late 2021 and is progressing through to its final stages, ahead of further exploration work. “The first 12-18 months of work will involve baseline data acquisition for the purpose of geological validation and prospect definition,” according to Anglo American. “If the aerial survey identifies an area that requires further assessment the project team would be in touch with the relevant landholders to discuss a land access and compensation agreement to undertake further activities. “These activities could include low-impact drilling for core samples.”