Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZS)’s final assays for the maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Andover Nickel-Copper suphide deposit, formerly VC-07 East, have delivered high-grade results.
The results confirm the strong continuity of internal mineralised widths and grades in the deposit.
Advanced metallurgical test work has commenced on Andover mineralisation.
The maiden Andover MRE is expected in late March 2022.
“Very well pleased”
Azure is very pleased with results from the recent drilling, with infill drilling of the deposit confirming excellent continuity of mineralised widths and grades and extensional drilling indicating the mineralisation remains open for further expansion to the east, west and at depth.
Encouragingly, shallow drilling at the eastern end of the deposit intersected nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation within 20 metres of surface, beneath an extensive outcrop of nickel and copper-rich gossan, which extends for several hundred metres further to the east.
This potential eastern mineralised extension remains undrilled and Azure will undertake additional drilling in this direction once heritage approvals have been received.
Results
Final assays received, delivering excellent results include:
- ANDD0112 (western infill): 3.7 metres at 2.73% nickel, 0.42% copper and 0.12% cobalt from 258.1 metres downhole
- ANDD0116 (western extension): 17.9 metres at 1.57% nickel, 0.79% copper & 0.08% cobalt from 266.8 metres downhole; including 4.5 metres at 2.42% nickel, 0.59% copper and 0.11% cobalt from 266.8 metres downhole; and 3.9 metres at 2.04% nickel, 0.52% copper and 0.11% cobalt from 277.8 metres downhole
- ANDD0122 (upper western extension): 3.7 metres at 1.54% nickel, 0.40% copper and 0.06% cobalt from 171.7 metres downhole; including:
- ANDD0124 (depth extension): 7.0 metres at 1.23% nickel, 0.41% copper and 0.06% cobalt from 565.4 metres downhole; including 2.7 metres at 2.19% nickel, 0.20% copper and 0.10% cobalt from 566.5 metres downhole; and 3.7 metres at 1.59% nickel, 0.49% copper and 0.08% cobalt from 621.6 metres downhole, including 1.7 metres at 2.61% nickel, 0.34% copper and 0.12% cobalt from 623.0 metres downhole.
All assay results are now finalised and have been provided to Azure’s consultants CSA Global Pty Ltd, who are completing the maiden MRE for Andover.
Assay results remain pending for a further 22 holes that have been drilled at Ridgeline (formerly VC07 West) and other regional targets, with laboratory turnaround times currently averaging around eight weeks.
Advanced-stage metallurgical test work
In addition to resource definition and exploration drilling, Azure has commenced advanced-stage metallurgical test work on samples collected from different zones within the Andover deposit.
Sulphide flotation tests are being carried out on multiple composite samples to assess the variability of metallurgical characteristics across the deposit and to optimise the process flowsheet.
Azure has renamed some of the prospects hosted within the Andover project area, as not all targets the company is exploring have been identified by the airborne electromagnetic (VTEM) survey, which originated the VC-xx naming convention.
Looking forward
With the resource drill-out of the Andover deposit completed, Azure’s focus has moved to exploring other targets where nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation has already been drilled, such as the Ridgeline, Seaview (formerly VC-23) and Skyline prospects.
In addition, Azure’s ongoing regional exploration program at Andover, comprising geological mapping, geochemical sampling, surface and downhole EM surveying and drilling, continues to show very promising results.
Targets such as Pipeline, VC-18 East and VC-41 have undergone initial drill-testing and observations of the drill core will be released when finalised.
Drilling of these and other targets on the property are expected to continue through 2022.
Meanwhile, development studies focused on a standalone mining and processing operation are continuing.
Advanced-stage metallurgical test work and processing optimisation studies are underway, mine design and operational studies are being undertaken in conjunction with the resource modelling, tailings storage studies have commenced and infrastructure assessments are in progress.