Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZS) has delivered a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the Andover deposit, the first prospect drilled as part of the Andover Project in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia, in which Azure has a majority share.
Andover deposit is estimated to contain 4.6 million tonnes at 1.11% nickel, 0.47% copper and 0.05% cobalt for 51,700 tonnes of contained nickel, 21,700 tonnes of contained copper and 2,290 tonnes of contained cobalt at a cut-off grade of 0.5% nickel (JORC 2012).
This includes a high-grade resource component of 2.0 million tonnes at 1.41% nickel, 0.49% copper and 0.06% cobalt at a cut-off grade of 0.9% nickel.
Methodology
The MRE was completed by CSA Global Pty Ltd based on 104 holes drilled between 2018 and 2021, consisting of 102 diamond and two reverse circulation (RC) holes for 44,267 metres.
All holes were assayed where they intersected mineralisation lodes and for any internal waste and external lengths for several metres outside the lodes. Drill holes were nominally spaced 50 metres by 50 metres, typically oriented within 020° of orthogonal to the interpreted dip and strike of mineralisation.
The company sees this, the country’s newest nickel-copper sulphide deposit, as a robust resource with more than 80% of the mineral resource estimate tonnes classified in the indicated category.
“I’m very pleased to present this maiden mineral resource for the Andover deposit, thereby achieving a key milestone in advancing the overall Andover Project,” Azure’s managing director Tony Rovira said.
“This highlights the extraordinary potential that we have always recognised within the project and is just the beginning of a very exciting journey."
Geological map of the Andover deposit and surrounds.
Likely additional resources to come
“The exploration team has excelled to have delivered the first resource only 18 months after starting exploration, while also discovering and now drilling significant nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation at several other prospects within the project area," Rovira said
“For example, it’s likely that additional mineral resources will be defined at the nearby Ridgeway (6.3 metres at 3.59% nickel, 4.9 metres at 3.5% nickel, and 4.5 metres at 3.95% nickel as announced on March 15, 2022), Seaview (7.0 metres at 1.35% nickel) and Skyline (results to be announced) prospects.
“With these, plus other excellent targets like Atrium and Woodbrook that have yet to be drilled, I’m confident this is only the start of mineral resource definition at the Andover Project.”
The project is 35 kilometres southeast of Karratha and immediately south of the town of Roebourne.
Excellent infrastructure, including airports, port access, railway, grid power, sealed highway and support services are readily available in the local district.