Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZS) is continuing to successfully intersect substantial visible nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation from its resource definition drilling program on the VC-07 East nickel-copper sulphide deposit at the Andover Project (60% Azure / 40% Creasy Group) in Western Australia.
22 new drill holes intersected multiple intervals of massive, semi-massive, matrix and heavily disseminated nickel-copper sulphides, with some of the broader intersections being:
- 46.2 metres of nickel-copper sulphides from 528.0m (ANDD0055);
- 21.8 metres from 404.6m (ANDD0067);
- 37.6 metres from 313.2m (ANDD0068);
- 18.7 metres from 360.0m (ANDD0069);
- 20.1 metres from 298.5m (ANDD0073); and
- 14.8 metres from 247.6m (ANDD0076).
Azure managing director Tony Rovira said: “We’re excited with the ongoing success of our resource definition drilling program which continues to significantly increase the size and scale of VC-07 East, with most holes into and around this deposit intersecting substantial nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation.
“Importantly, recent drilling has returned multiple good looking Ni-Cu sulphide intersections in the upper part of the deposit, bringing the Ni-Cu sulphide mineralisation to within 50m of surface.
“In addition to this near surface mineralisation, drilling continues to expand the deposit down-dip and along strike to the west, with the mineralised system remaining open in these directions.”
Three rigs drilling around the clock
To date, Azure has completed 80 diamond drill holes for 36,816 metres at Andover, with 72 holes drilled at VC-07 and 8 holes drilled at the VC-23 prospect.
Three rigs are drilling around the clock at VC-07 East, with a primary focus on completing the drill-out of the deposit this year and delivering a maiden mineral resource in 2022.
Assay turnaround time is now at 8-10 weeks due to laboratory overload.
Next steps
Azure’s +40,000-metre diamond drilling program at Andover has confirmed the VC-07 prospect hosts a mineralised system containing multiple zones of nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation, with the VC-07 East zone developing into a significant nickel-copper sulphide deposit.
The mineral resource definition drilling program on the VC-07 East deposit is nearing completion and when this is concluded, Azure will re-focus the drilling campaign to expanding the VC-07 West mineralised zone to resource status.
Downhole electromagnetic (DHTEM) surveying along the VC-07 mineralised corridor continues to provide targeting for additional mineralised extensions, assisting in future drill planning.
The Andover regional exploration program will focus on drill-testing other EM conductor anomalies identified on the property, for example at VC-23, VC-18, VC-41, when heritage and statutory approvals of those sites have been granted.
Rovira added: “The company is also undertaking infill drilling of the deposit to close up the hole spacing and ensure that, when the drill-out is completed, we can deliver a robust maiden mineral resource for Andover’s first nickel copper sulphide deposit.”