It will be investigating the possible presence of metals such as nickel, copper, cobalt, niobium, zirconium and rare earth elements.

In a statement Alkane said it has applied to the NSW Division of Resources & Geosciences for exploration north and east of the town.

 Alkane is an Australian mining and exploration company based in Perth, with projects and operations located in the Central West.

Its Tomingley mine is in the Narromine Shire.

The statement said Alkane has also been exploring for metals in the Central West since the mid-1980s.

“Tomingley Gold Operations currently employs 130 people and is on track to produce 80,000 ounces of gold for the financial year.”

The company is also behind the $1 billion Dubbo Zirconia Project and has all of the necessary government approvals to establish a rare metal and rare earth mine and mineral processing facility at Toongi about 27km south of Dubbo.

“It is working on establishing offtake agreements with customers and attracting project finance,” Alkane said.

“The Trangie Exploration Licence Application (ELA 5648) is targeting a geophysical anomaly discovered by state aerial and ground surveys.

“This anomaly is a coincident magnetic and gravity feature which is different to regional geological character.

“The roughly circular anomaly is centred on the Trangie-Collie Road approximately 5km from Trangie.

“In due course Alkane will establish contact with the several landowners whose land is within the area of interest.

“Preliminary investigations are likely to involve ground based geophysical survey,  examination of any existing outcrops of rock and some initial shallow exploration holes using a small mobile drilling rig.

General Manager of NSW Alkane Resources Michael Sutherland said: “We are looking forward to meeting the Trangie community and having a talk about it when it has all been advertised and processed”.