Impact Minerals (ASX: IPT) has identified numerous near-surface conductive targets at its Broken Hill project in New South Wales following a single-line magnetotelluric (MT) survey supported by regional data reinterpretation.
The data highlight a conductive corridor extending from approximately 20 kilometres depth toward the surface within its tenure, suggesting a potential lithospheric-scale mineral system.
The survey results indicate a conductive corridor adjacent to the Redan Fault, which the company interprets as a crustal-scale structure capable of enabling deep-seated fluid flow.
Three near-surface conductive zones labelled T1, T2, and T3 have been defined, with follow-up work confirming a discrete conductor at the top of the priority T3 anomaly ahead of drill targeting.
Alignment with AUSLAMP Data
The targets align with a reinterpretation of data from the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AUSLAMP), which identified two major conductors approximately 20km below surface in the Broken Hill region.
One conductor reaches the surface near the Redan Fault and sits beneath the Huonville goldfield and an interpreted sub-basin within the Willyama Supergroup, which hosts the Broken Hill massive sulphide deposit.
The regional model suggests enhanced conductivity may represent deep-seated fluid pathways capable of supplying near-surface ore systems.
Impact stated that a deeper sub-horizontal conductive zone identified in its two-dimensional inversion aligns with the regional conductor, supporting a connection between deep and shallow features.
Broken Hill Landholding
Impact Minerals owns 100% of tenements covering approximately 2,000 square kilometres and more than 100km of prospective strike around Broken Hill, including ground south of the Line of Lode.
“The significance of these results lies not just in the individual conductors we have identified, but in what they may represent at a district scale,” managing director Dr Mike Jones said.
“The MT data suggest the presence of a deep crustal corridor capable of focusing mineralising fluids into the upper crust, precisely the type of architecture associated with world-class mineral provinces.”
Dr Jones added that, while further validation is needed, confirming shallow conductive targets above a deep-seated corridor provides a strong geological framework capable of supporting significant discoveries.
Renewed Regional Interest
The Broken Hill region has seen renewed exploration interest, with Broken Hill Mines (ASX: BHM) recently acquiring the Rasp and Pinnacles mines, and South32 Limited entering a joint venture north of the Broken Hill mine.
Impact said its MT survey builds on work undertaken during its participation in the BHP Xplor program, although BHP has held no rights over the company’s tenements since the program concluded in 2023.
The single MT line comprised 20 readings at 1km station spacing along close to the main highway south of Broken Hill, with instruments left in the ground for 24 to 48 hours.
The company said it is awaiting final results from the follow-up MT survey over T3 to refine drill targets within what it interprets as a large-scale mineral system architecture.
