Aruma Resources Ltd (ASX:AAJ) has begun an extensive ground-based electromagnetic survey at its recently acquired Tillex Copper-Silver Project in Ontario’s Timmins mining district, aiming to sharpen and expand drill targets ahead of a maiden diamond program.
The company has started a fixed loop time domain electromagnetic (FLTDEM) survey across a large portion of Tillex to map electromagnetic conductors that may be linked to copper mineralisation along strike and at depth.
The program is designed to quickly and cost-effectively test its initial priority patent claims and improve the geometry of potential subsurface conductors for drill planning.
Tillex Project longsection view showing proposed depth extent of ground EM coverage below the current drill defined depth of ~150m. EM will seek to define target areas for drilling to a vertical depth of ~400m below surface.
“We are delighted to have commenced our maiden field season at the Tillex Copper Project having completed the acquisition last month. This ground-based EM survey is a key component of our exploration targeting at the project, ahead of our first phase of drilling," AAJ managing director Grant Ferguson said.
"This geophysical survey will provide a highly effective test of our two initial priority patent claims and will seek to provide an enhanced definition of subsurface EM conductors within the project area, which in turn will help maximise our drill targeting work and deliver high-confidence drill targets.
"The EM survey will cover a large portion of the project area. It will target strike extensions approximately 500 metres to the north and 500 metres to the south of the current drill-defined area and will also extend to a vertical depth of approximately 400 metres below surface. EM coverage will also target parallel structures to the west of the project’s mineralised footprint.
"The program will be completed in the current month, and results are also expected to be available this month. From there, we will finalise plans for our first phase of drilling, which will be a diamond core program.
"We are excited to be able to substantially extend the strike and depth extent of the high-grade mineralised footprint at the Tillex Project, and eagerly await the results of the EM survey, as a first step toward this objective.”
Testing strike extensions and depth potential
A key objective is to assess whether high-grade copper-silver mineralisation continues beyond the current drill-defined footprint.
Aruma’s survey is targeting:
- strike continuity around 500 metres north and 500 meres south of the known mineralised zone;
- depth potential to about 400 metres below surface; and
- potential parallel conductive structures outside the known mineralised trend.
Tillex already drill-defined over 420 metres
Tillex is currently drill-defined over a 420 metres strike extent, underpinned by 10,284 metres of historical diamond drilling completed by previous owners.
The existing footprint includes numerous wide, high-grade copper and silver intersections, and that the presence of historical drillholes should help improve modelling accuracy and support the generation of higher-confidence targets.
Results expected this month, drilling to follow
The FLTDEM program is being completed by Abitibi Geophysics, with acquisition planned on 100-metre line spacing and 50-metre station spacing.
Aruma expects the survey to be completed and results available later this month, with interpretation to feed directly into planning for the company’s maiden diamond drilling campaign at Tillex.