Aston Minerals achieves 93% nickel liberation from Boomerang ore during preliminary test work

Aston Minerals (ASX: ASO) has achieved a 93% nickel liberation during test work on all holes drilled to-date at its Boomerang nickel-cobalt target within the Edleston project in Canada.

The company submitted samples to be analysed by four acid digest (total digestion method) and aqua regia digestion with ICP finish (partial digestion method).

This work was done to provide an initial assessment of nickel liberation, with tests showing a 93% liberation rate – indicating nickel is associated with sulphide mineralisation and potentially iron alloys.

Drilling so far at Boomerang has intersected nickel mineralisation across three discrete sections.

Aston managing director Dale Ginn said with all holes drilling at Boomerang hitting nickel-cobalt mineralisation, the company decided to begin systematic mineralogical analysis as a pre-cursor to metallurgical testing.

“ are very encouraged by the liberation of nickel from partial digestion methods,” he said.

“The strong correlation between the aqua regia and four acid digest results indicates that we are dealing with a substantial proportion of nickel associated with sulphides and iron alloys relative to that of silicate associated minerals,” he explained.

“The mineralogical analysis will assist in defining the amenability of geophysical methods to specifically target nickel mineralisation and refine our planned drilling.”

Drilling Boomerang

At the Olecranon prospect within Boomerang, drilling unearthed 730.9m at 0.23% nickel and 0.01% cobalt from 13.1m – with the hole also ending in mineralisation.

Another hole at the Ulna prospect returned 187m at 0.27% nickel form 312m, including 7m at 0.47% nickel.

A further hole is underway at Bardwell and is planned to go to a depth of 1,200m. It aims to assess the depth continuity of mineralisation and is targeting the trend 150m southeast of a hole that hit 282.5m at 0.43% nickel and 0.014% cobalt from 67.5m, including 163.5m at 0.52% nickel and 0.017% cobalt.

Mr Ginn said the program at Boomerang is assessing the strike potential of mineralisation.

“With recently approved permitting across the entire strike length of the Boomerang target, we have the capacity to rapidly assess and infill drill required key areas of mineralisation,” he added.

Edleston project

Located within Ontario, Edleston is also within a known gold producing region.

The project encompasses 307 square kilometres of ground in the region and comprises 203 mining claims.

Aston executive chairman Tolga Kumova said previously if he was going to choose where in the world to uncover a globally significant nickel deposit, it would be Ontario.

“The infrastructure is world class. There is an extensive history of mining with a local highly skilled labour force.”

He added the region had access to hydroelectric power as a green energy source.

“We are literally located on the doorstep of what is rapidly emerging to be the electric vehicle manufacturing capital of the world.”