Auroch Minerals’ Saints project continues to return high-grade nickel
Assays from Saints revealed a best result of 1.25m at 3.71% nickel and 0.18% copper from 241.61m
Auroch Minerals (ASX: AOU) has uncovered high-grade massive nickel sulphides within the Saint Andrews channel of its Saints nickel project in Western Australia.
Assays revealed a best result of 1.25m at 3.71% nickel and 0.18% copper from 241.61m, which was within a broader zone of 3.68m at 1.85% nickel and 0.26% copper from 240.79m.
Auroch noted the mineralisation was coincident with a struck down hole electromagnetic conductor that had been modelled from historic data.
All-up four diamond holes were drilled for a total of 1,232m, with each hole identifying DHEM conductors.
The remaining core is being sampled and will be modelled in conjunction with the DHEM conductors to form the basis of the next drilling phase.
Auroch managing director Aidan Platel said the company was “extremely pleased” with the initial diamond drill results from Saints.
He said these massive sulphide zones confirm the project hosts a “very nickel-rich system” and that the company’s geological and DHEM modelling is providing the right platform to vector in on further mineralisation.
“The nickel-rich results from the basal ultramafic flow, coupled with other element results such as magnesium, have really confirmed to our technical team that the Saint Andrews channel is a very fertile channel capable of hosting significant massive nickel sulphide mineralisation at its base.”
“Were before there was a distinct lack of data to work with, we now have two very compelling drill targets for the next phase of diamond drilling as we continue to explore for that feeder channel mineralisation within the Saints system,” Mr Platel added.
Saints nickel project
Saints is located about 65km north-west of Kalgoorlie and only 7km from the Goldfields Highway.
The project already has an existing resource of 1.05 million tonnes at 2% nickel and 0.2% copper for 21,400t of nickel and 1,600t of copper.
This latest result follows 60-hole aircore, and reverse circulation drilling programs during the June quarter.
Auroch’s strategy at Saints is to firm up high-grade nickel resources.