Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZS) is poised to begin extensive reverse circulation (RC) and aircore (AC) drilling this quarter at Barton Gold Project in the Kookynie Gold District of Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields.
The mineral explorer’s drilling campaign will initially target northern extensions of Genesis (TSX:GDC) Minerals Ltd's new Puzzle North gold discovery, part of the world-class Leonora-Laverton gold province.
Promisingly, the company’s aeromagnetic survey has identified structurally controlled gold targets in the region.
Azure managing director Tony Rovira said: “We’re very excited to get the rigs spinning on our first drill program at Barton with multiple targets to be assessed."
“One of hottest gold provinces”
“Our first priority will be to test for mineralised extensions of the substantial gold zones discovered by Genesis (TSX:GDC) Minerals at Puzzle North, which lies adjacent to our southern tenement boundary," he said.
“With our recent tenement applications targeting prime geological terrain, Azure has emerged as one of the largest landholders in the Kookynie Gold District, one of the hottest gold provinces in Western Australia, highlighted by the recent exploration successes and corporate activities of neighbouring companies like Genesis Minerals, Saturn Metals, Nex Metals and Metalicity.”
Barton Project with underlying geology and gold occurrences
Drill program
Azure’s granted tenement and new applications cover 570 square kilometres in the Kookynie Gold District which hosts around 3 million ounces of gold resources and numerous new gold discoveries.
Just to the south of Daisy Corner, neighbouring company Genesis Minerals has been undertaking a resource drill-out at its newly discovered Puzzle North gold deposit.
Importantly, wide zones of gold mineralisation associated with quartz veining hosted in hematite-sericite altered granite adjacent to granite-greenstone contact were identified in the region.
Barton Project with aeromagnetic image over E40/393.
This mineralised zone trends north directly towards Azure’s property, and this will be the first target to be tested by Azure’s imminent drilling program.
Expanded portfolio
Barton Project showing areas of gold prospectivity on E40/393.
Rovira adds: “While Azure’s main endeavours remain focused on advancing our outstanding Andover nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide project in the Pilbara, the Kookynie gold assets provide the company with an opportunity to broaden our commodity exposure into the gold space.
“We consider this commodity diversification to be an important strategy for the company and we look forward to further exploration successes in this expanded portfolio.”
Azure Minerals has a majority or sole ownership of five nickel and gold projects in Western Australia.
The company's portfolio also includes two advanced-stage, development-ready precious and base metals projects in Mexico.