Aruma Resources Ltd (ASX:AAJ) has kicked off the second phase of diamond drilling at its Tillex Copper-Silver Project in Ontario, targeting extensions to the wide, high-grade mineralisation identified in its initial campaign.
The approximately 3,600-metre program will test the southwest strike and depth potential of the Tillex deposit, including a strong electromagnetic conductor interpreted to extend beyond the limits of current drilling.
Aruma aims to expand the known mineralised footprint, better define the geometry and continuity of the copper-silver system and advance Tillex towards a maiden mineral resource estimate.
Building on high-grade Phase 1 results
Tillex is currently defined over about 450 metres of strike and to a depth of around 150 metres, with mineralisation remaining open.
Phase 1 drilling returned multiple broad, high-grade intersections, including:
- 89 metres at 2.04% copper and 12.31 g/t silver from 38.8 metres, including 16.87 metres at 4.02% copper and 16.85 g/t silver;
- 87 metres at 1.99% copper and 12.63 g/t silver from 30 metres, including 5.6 metres at 5.36% copper and 56.89 g/t silver; and
- 59 metres at 1.91% copper and 8.80 g/t silver from 38 metres.
Managing director Grant Ferguson said the new campaign represented an important step in unlocking what the company believed was an emerging high-grade copper-silver system.
“This next phase of drilling is specifically designed to test those extensions, expand the known mineralised footprint and move the project closer to a significant maiden Mineral Resource Estimate,” he said.
Plan view of planned Phase 2 drilling, also showing significant intersections and collar locations from Aruma’s Phase 1drilling and drilling by previous owners.
Testing Tillex’s growth potential
The drilling will target a shallow-plunging electromagnetic conductor identified through downhole surveys completed during Phase 1.
Selected Phase 2 holes will also be used for further downhole electromagnetic surveying, helping Aruma map additional conductors beneath and along strike from existing mineralisation.
Ground and downhole electromagnetic work indicates potential for copper sulphide mineralisation across a strike extent of up to approximately 600 metres, including targets that have not yet been drill-tested.
Next steps
Phase 2 drilling is expected to be completed during the following month, with assay results to be released progressively as they become available.
The results will be incorporated with geological and geophysical datasets to refine further drilling targets and support work towards a JORC-compliant maiden mineral resource estimate.
About the Tillex project
Tillex is in the Tier 1 Timmins mining district, about 60 kilometres from the Kidd Creek copper-zinc-silver mine.
The project is interpreted to host volcanogenic massive sulphide-style mineralisation and benefits from established road and highway access, allowing year-round exploration.
Tillex is also held through patented mining claims that provide Aruma with surface and mineral rights, potentially simplifying access and permitting as exploration advances.