Auroch Minerals Ltd’s (ASX:AOU) (FRA:T59) maiden 3,500 metres reverse circulation (RC) drill program is progressing on schedule and is about one-third of the way through at its high-grade Nepean Nickel Project, 25 kilometres south of Coolgardie, in Western Australia.
So far, 12 drill-holes have been completed for 1,012 metres, with 10 shallow near-mine holes (742 metres) completed and logged, and samples in the laboratory for analyses, and results are expected within the next one-two weeks.
A 3,000 metres air-core (AC) drill program has been planned to define the ultramafic stratigraphy and footwall contact(s) over the 10 kilometres of strike at Nepean, and will commence in mid-February.
Also, modern high-powered ground moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) survey has been scheduled for March, to assist with massive sulphide target definition along the Nepean strike.
High potential for significant nickel sulphide mineralisation
Auroch managing director Aidan Platel said: “We are pleased with the progress of our maiden RC drill program at the Nepean Nickel Project, and are eager to see the assay results of the initial shallow holes that have the potential to join the known shallow high-grade nickel mineralisation 200 metres to the south of the Nepean mine back to the remnant mineralisation in the mine itself.
“We are also very excited to now be drilling the aeromagnetic targets along the 10 kilometres of prospective strike at Nepean, all of which have very high potential to host significant nickel sulphide mineralisation, yet they have never been previously explored with modern techniques.
“We are expecting first assay results within the next fortnight and we look forward to the next market update when they are received.”
The project is operated under its 80:20 joint venture agreement with Goldfellas Pty Ltd.
Next steps
The results from the 3,000 metres AC drill program will be used to produce a detailed litho-geochemical model over the full strike length of the Nepean project area, to be utilised for targeting for the next phases of drilling.
Also planned for this quarter at the Nepean Nickel Project is a modern high-powered ground MLEM survey over two critical areas to the north and south of the historic Nepean nickel mine.
The planned survey at Nepean was designed over prospective areas of the Nepean strike to vector in on possible massive nickel sulphide mineralisation and hence provide further high-potential targets for subsequent drilling campaigns.
COVID-19
Despite the recent COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions in the Perth and south-west WA regions, its exploration program and scheduling have not been affected.
Recent heavy rainfall in the Goldfields region due to cyclone-related fronts have caused minor downtime to the drill program due to reduced access, but this is not expected to impact on the overall schedule.