Orion Minerals Ltd (ASX:ORN, JSE:ORN) reports highly encouraging results from its maiden drilling program across the Koperberg–Carolusberg line of intrusions at the Okiep Copper Project in the Northern Cape of South Africa.
A total of 3,411 metres of diamond drilling was completed in 25 holes. A total of 362 split core samples were submitted to ALS Chemex for analysis.
Presence of shallow high-grade copper
All assay results are in for the 25-hole diamond drilling program and they confirm historically reported drill results and establish the presence of significant copper mineralisation across the project.
Ten of the 25 holes encountered wide zones of high-grade copper, with results including:
- 7.76 metres at 1.94% copper from 29.7 metres including 4.1 metres at 2.01% copper from 33.3 metres; and
- 9.02 metres at 1.45% copper from 103.08 metres including 5.9 metres at 1.86% copper from 103.08 metres.
This in addition to previously reported high-grade intersections of 10.36 metres at 1.84% copper from 58.98 metres, 5.71 metres at 1.93% copper from 72.85 metres and 4.69 metres at 2.05% copper from 49.22 metres.
Promisingly, the bulk of the Koperberg high-grade intersections are less than 100 metres below surface.
Assays confirm that copper-nickel mineralisation was intersected from initial drill testing of an anomaly discovered by SkyTEM geophysical surveying at the Nous prospect, with follow-up drilling now underway to test an adjacent, stronger conductor.
The company is now updating its geological models to include the new drill data.
Greenfields exploration drill hole
In addition, Orion’s first greenfields exploration hole at Okiep intersected veins and massive sulphide lenses of pyrrhotite–chalcopyrite in drill core within a magnetite rich, mafic intrusive host, with assays confirming the presence of copper mineralisation and significant strong nickel credits.
This hole tested down-dip of copper mineralisation exposed on surface coincident with an electromagnetic anomaly detected by a SkyTEM geophysical survey and confirmed by a ground EM follow-up survey.
This exercise has provided an important proof-of-concept that will assist Orion with ongoing exploration at the project.
Historically productive area
The Phase 1 exploration drilling program on the Koperberg–Carolusberg line of intrusions was designed to twin, in-fill, and expand known mineralisation intersected in historical drilling at the Koperberg West, Koperberg West Extension and Koperberg East deposits.
The Carolusberg Complex was the biggest contributor to historical mining in the Okiep Copper District, delivering 38 million tonnes grading at 1.54% copper out of the reported total of 105 million tonnes mined in the district over the past 100 years.
Historical mine records show that Carolusberg Deeps contributed 16 million tonnes at a head grade of 2.05% copper.
Orion managing director and CEO Errol Smart said: “We are delighted with the outcome of our maiden drilling program at Okiep.
“The results we’ve received to date have exceeded our expectations, demonstrating the presence of widespread near surface copper mineralisation across the project and reinforcing what we have always thought – that Okiep represents an exceptional growth opportunity for Orion.
“These drill results infill and confirm the previous Newmont and Goldfields era drilling that outline an extensive, unmined near surface swarm of copper mineralised mafic dykes and lenses. This drilling will now be followed up with further infill and extension drilling to enable future resource estimation.
“Importantly the mineralisation intersected has strong similarity to the near surface mineralisation mined along strike at the Carolusberg mine, which was the largest mine of the district.
“We are also very pleased with the results from the first hole at Nous that is following upon targets identified from the SkyTEMTM survey. The higher pyrrhotite content sulphides discovered are nickel rich and present an exciting new opportunity. With strong market outlook and the LME nickel price currently more than three times the copper price, a potential nickel credit can be very valuable.”