Asian Battery Metals PLC (ASX:AZ9) has confirmed additional massive sulphide mineralisation at its Maikhan Uul copper-gold project in southwestern Mongolia, strengthening evidence of a large volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) system near the company’s flagship Oval discovery.
The latest diamond drillhole, MU2502, was collared about 73 metres east of earlier hole MU2501 and intersected 34.3 metres of massive sulphide dominated by pyrite with intervals of intensified copper mineralisation from 146.9 metres’ depth. The mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike, with assays due within the next four to six weeks.
Cross section of MU2502, MU2501 and historic drillhole MU_DH1204.
“We’re very encouraged by the results from drillhole MU2502, which confirms the continuation of the massive sulphide lens at Maikhan Uul, providing critical information on the massive sulphide lens continuation and the potential direction of copper mineralisation intensity,” said managing director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren.
“Together with MU2501, these results point to a potentially larger and long-lived VMS mineral system,” he added. “The pending assays will help us understand the gold and copper mineralisation trends and guide next steps, including initial metallurgical test work.”
Drilling and geophysics strengthen geological model
MU2502 was designed to test the eastern extension of mineralised zones intercepted by MU2501 and a surface breccia mapped in earlier fieldwork. The hole also cut 11 metres of hematite-limonite-rich breccia from 25 metres’ depth, a feature linked to near-surface gold mineralisation.
The massive sulphide mineralisation in drillhole MU2502. Parts of longer mineralised intervals included as an illustration of the nature of mineralisation.
Logging indicates the massive sulphide zone is consistent in thickness with previous intersections, supporting a geological model of steeply north-dipping mineralisation in a continuous lens. The drillhole also lacked the strong vein-stringer development observed in MU2501, which the company says may indicate a position more distal from a vent centre — typical of VMS systems where metal endowment varies with proximity to hydrothermal vents.
Complementing the drilling, a down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) survey identified four conductive plates in sub-vertical orientations correlating with logged sulphide zones in MU2501 and MU2502. The results suggest the massive sulphide lens could extend westward and vertically, defining a conductive trend consistent with the interpreted strike of the deposit.
Location plan map of drillholes and DHEM plates of Maikhan Uul project.
Broader program and next steps
Maikhan Uul lies just 8 kilometres from Asian Battery Metals’ Oval copper-nickel-platinum group elements (PGE) discovery — part of its 100%-owned Yambat project, which also includes the Copper Ridge copper-gold prospect, alongside the company’s Bayan Sair, Khukh Tag graphite and Tsagaan Ders lithium projects in Mongolia.
Assays from Oval’s Phase 3 drilling are expected within the next few weeks, alongside initial metallurgical test work. At Maikhan Uul, further drilling and DHEM surveys will continue to delineate extensions of the sulphide lens, while due diligence assays are pending within two to four weeks.
Zunduisuren said the company’s focus now is to integrate the pending geochemical data and geophysical results to refine its understanding of the system.
“The Maikhan Uul area clearly has strong potential for VMS-style mineralisation, comparable to other deposits across the Central Asian Orogenic Belt,” he said.
Asian Battery Metals says the latest findings add momentum to its due-diligence program and support the view that Maikhan Uul could evolve into a high-value copper-gold asset within the company’s broader clean-energy metals portfolio.