Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZS) has intersected more nickel-copper mineralisation in a resource drill-out program at VC-07 East sulphide deposit on the Andover Project joint venture with Creasy Group in Western Australia.
There have been 111 diamond drill holes for 48,742 metres completed at Andover, with 103 holes drilled at VC-07, including 91 holes at VC-07 East and 12 at VC-07 West, and eight at VC-23 prospect.
Best result is 33.6 metres at 1.30% nickel, 0.61% copper and 0.06% cobalt from 317.7 metres downhole including 7.6 metres at 2.38% nickel, 0.29% copper and 0.10% cobalt from 329.7 metres downhole.
"Good internal continuity"
Assay results have been received up to and including hole ANDD0077 with results for the remaining 34 holes awaited.
Azure managing director Tony Rovira said: “The mineral resource drilling of the Andover VC-07 East Ni-Cu sulphide deposit continues to deliver substantial mineralised intersections from both infill and extensional drilling.
“The infill drilling is confirming good internal continuity of grades and widths of the mineralisation, providing support for a robust mineral resource estimate."
Shares have been as much as 10% higher intraday to 33 cents.
Three rigs continue to drill around the clock at VC-07 East, with a primary focus on completing infill and extensional resource definition drilling to support the delivery of a high-confidence maiden mineral resource estimate.
Strong results
Other strong results include:
- 18.7 metres at 1.51% nickel, 0.60% copper and 0.07% cobalt from 360 metres downhole, including 7.1 metres at 2.22% nickel, 0.31% copper and 0.12% cobalt from 170.6 metres, 3.5 metres at 2.10% nickel, 0.88% copper and 0.11% cobalt from 360 metres, and 3.5 metres at 3.99% nickel, 0.36% copper and 0.16% cobalt from 375.2 metres;
- 19.6 metres at 1.46% nickel, 0.40% copper and & 0.07% cobalt from 342.2 metres downhole, including 5.5 metres at 2.11% nickel, 0.43% copper and 0.09% cobalt from 342.2 metres, and 4.8 metres at 2.63% nickel, 0.43% copper and 0.12% cobalt from 356.7 metres;
- 20.1 metres at 1.41% nickel, 0.69% copper and 0.07% cobalt from 298.4 metres downhole, including 13.9 metres at 1.75% nickel, 0.64% copper and 0.08% cobalt from 304.7 metres; and 10.6 metres at 1.90% nickel, 0.53% copper and & 0.08% cobalt from 338.6 metres downhole, including 6.1 metres at 2.21% nickel, 0.62% copper and 0.09% cobalt from 338.6 metres.
Furthermore, 24 new drill holes intersected massive, semi-massive, matrix and heavily disseminated nickel-copper sulphides at VC-07 East with assays awaited. Visually mineralised intersections include:
- 25.2 metres of nickel-copper sulphides from 306.7 metres downhole;
- 20.6 metres from 90.5 metres downhole;
- 30.7 metres from 519.2 metres downhole;
- 15.2 metres from 371 metres downhole;
- 10.8 metres from 404.1 metres downhole;
- 19.1 metres from 65 metres downhole;
- 16 metres from 278.8 metres downhole; and
- 10.9 metres from 193.9 metres downhole.
Long section A-AA showing grade-thickness heat map (Ni% x width[m]) of the VC-07 East nickel-copper sulphide deposit.
Maiden resource next quarter
“We expect the VC-07 East resource drill-out to be completed within the next few weeks, with final assay results likely to be delivered by early January and our maiden mineral resource estimate to be completed in the first quarter of 2022," Rovira said.
“The next move for the drill rigs will be to define the VC-07 West mineralised body where our earlier drilling identified multiple sulphide-rich zones coincident with electromagnetic conductor plates, with several high-grade nickel and copper sulphide intersections returned.
“We also expect to be able to drill test some of the regional targets identified by airborne and surface electromagnetic surveying as soon as we have received the required heritage approvals.”
Andover VC-07 with drill hole locations and long section line A-AA.
Infill drilling
The infill drilling program is designed to close up the intersection spacing within the VC-07 East deposit to about 50 x 50 metres to ensure there will be a large component of indicated resources in the upcoming resource estimate.
Most holes intersected nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation with assay results and visual intersections confirming good continuity of mineralised thicknesses and grades, especially in the core of the deposit.
Extensional drilling has confirmed the VC-07 East deposit has a 400 metres east-west strike length and extends from within 40 metres of surface to a depth of more than 500 metres below the surface, and mineralisation remains open in several directions.
Encouragingly, one of the deepest holes drilled to date, ANDD0111, intersected a substantial, 30 metres wide mineralised zone containing massive, semi-massive, matrix and heavily disseminated nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation at a depth of approximately 550 metres below the surface.
Downhole electromagnetic (DHTEM) surveying of ANDD0111 indicates that sulphide mineralisation continues below this hole.
Forward plan
Azure’s ongoing diamond drilling program at VC07 has confirmed that this is an extensive mineralised system containing multiple zones of nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation.
The mineral resource drill-out of the VC-07 East nickel-copper sulphide deposit is expected to continue for a few more weeks, though this may be extended if significant mineralisation around the margins continues to be intersected.
When drilling of the VC-07 East deposit is completed, Azure will re-focus the drilling campaign to expanding the VC-07 West mineralised zone to resource status.
The regional exploration program at Andover is ongoing with geological mapping, geochemical sampling and surface fixed loop electromagnetic (FLTEM) surveys currently underway.
EM surveying has defined numerous bedrock-hosted EM conductors that represent priority drill targets with statutory drilling approvals for several new prospect locations have been received and heritage surveys in conjunction with local traditional owners are ongoing.