The project will further the understanding of critical minerals behaviour in the Goongarrie laterite, defining the relationship between gold, nickel and cobalt to improve Ardea’s exploration prospects at Goongarrie.

Nickel-cobalt laterite deposits generally do not feature gold mineralisation, but Goongarie features ultramafic rocks within the Bardoc tectonic zone (BTZ) made up of a gold-mineralising series of structures.

Ardea stated this had resulted in gold anomalies in its Goongarrie nickel-cobalt deposits.

Ardea managing director Andrew Penkethman said the research project would give the company a competitive advantage.

“Ardea is proud to work with CSIRO to advance scientific knowledge of the unique (Goongarrie nickel-cobalt project) critical mineral deposits and their associated gold mineralisation,” he said.

“Through focussed and collaborative research, Ardea will gain a competitive advantage that will be used to further understand critical minerals and gold mineralisation beneath the lateritic deposits of the (Goongarrie nickel-cobalt project) and elsewhere in the (Kalgoorlie nickel project).”

The study will last over a period of seven months, using CSIRO methods to image and define gold and critical mineral relationships in the Goongarrie deposits.

It is also expected to assist with future development at the Kalgoorlie nickel project.