Auroch Minerals Ltd (ASX:AOU) (FRA:T59) is in the final stages of preparation to recommence a soil and surface rock-chip sampling program covering prospective copper trends across the two tenements comprising its Arden Copper-Zinc Project near Port Augusta, South Australia.
Access with the relevant landowners has been established, with sampling to commence in the coming weeks.
The systematic program will include covering regional copper trends identified by Taruga Minerals (ASX:TAR) (FRA:2TU), which lie both to the northwest and east of the Arden tenements.
“Excellent potential for significant copper mineralisation”
Auroch managing director Aidan Platel said: “We are pleased to get back on the ground in South Australia and recommence our work programs at the Arden Project.
“The copper discovery at Wyacca by Taruga Minerals was very exciting and bodes well for the excellent potential for significant copper mineralisation that the Arden Project offers.
“The sampling program will provide a systematic coverage of the project area in order to define any potential trends for follow-up exploration and possibly drilling, building on the high-grade copper results we have already seen from rock-chip samples at Arden.
Previous surface sampling near the historic artisanal Mt Arden copper mine, south of the north-western copper trend, produced high-grade copper results, including 20.4% copper, 15.25% copper, 8.55% copper and 5.52% copper.
The Arden Project in relation to Taruga Minerals and IGO Ltd (ASX:IGO) (OTCMKTS:IPGDF) (FRA:IDZ).
RC program at Ragless Range
In addition to the surface sampling, Auroch is preparing for a reverse circulation (RC) drill program at the Ragless Range Zinc Prospect comprising 3 – 5 vertical drill holes for around 1,000 metres.
A work permit (PEPR) application has been lodged with the South Australian Mines Department for the program, which will test a strong gravity anomaly that extends for over 2 kilometres.
The anomaly is coincident with a surface zinc anomaly and adjacent to the high-grade zinc intersection from the company’s maiden drill program at Ragless Range, which intersected a very high-grade 3.65 metres at 15.47% zinc from 62.15 metres from within a broader interval of 12.80 metres at 4.96% zinc from 53 metres.
Looking forward
A drill rig is currently being sourced and final preparations are underway.
Platel said the company was eager to finally drill the planned RC program at the Ragless Range zinc prospect.
He said: “We know from our previous drilling that there is high-grade zinc mineralisation in the area, and we have potential for scale with a compelling anomaly with over 2 kilometres of strike, so we look forward to the program and the results it will bring.
“Our diamond program and high-powered ground electromagnetic (EM) survey at our Nepean Nickel Project are underway, and RC drilling at our Leinster Nickel Project resumes tomorrow, so it is an extremely busy and exciting time for the company and we eagerly await results on all exploration fronts.”