Azure Minerals confirms significant nickel-copper mineralisation at VC-23 prospect in WA
Azure Minerals intersected sulphide mineralisation within the first three holes at the VC-23 EM anomaly.
For Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS), the Andover project in the Pilbara just keeps on delivering, the latest development being that multiple holes have returned significant nickel-copper mineralisation at the new VC-23 target.
Andover was one of four projects acquired from prospector Mark Creasy’s company by Azure last July as part of a new Western Australian strategy while its silver and base metals projects in Mexico remained affected by the growing COVID-19 emergency in that country.
Recent attention has been focused on the VC-23 prospect within Andover, which is 60%-owned by Azure with the Creasy Group retaining a 40% stake.
In January, the company announced it was sure Andover had the potential to host multiple nickel-copper deposits, one of those being VC-23.
Continuity of mineralisation over 200m
That seems to have been on the money, with Azure now reporting it has established good continuity of nickel-copper over 200m by 100m at VC-23, with mineralisation open in all directions.
The assays reported include 5.8m at 1.12% nickel and 0.71% copper; 4m at 1.69% nickel and 0.21% copper (including 1.3m at 3.51% nickel and 0.21% copper); 7m at 1.35% nickel and 0.45% copper (including 2.7m at 2.29% nickel and 0.48% copper), along with 4.4m at 1.17% nickel and 0.61% copper.
Azure managing director Tony Rovira said the company began 2021 at Andover with “strong momentum on several fronts”.
Apart from the new discovery at VC-23, drilling continues to expand the VC-07 body of nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation.
“Furthermore, the company’s ongoing geophysical exploration continues to identify more prospective targets for drilling, demonstrating the highly prospective character of the entire Andover project,” Mr Rovira added.
He said VC-23 is “wide open” for further expansion in all directions.
To help with targeting future drilling at VC-23, Azure is now undertaking geochemical studies, geophysical surveying, and modelling of the electromagnetic (EM) conductors.
This will assist in tracing the mineralisation to its original source.
Regional exploration to continue through 2021
“While down hole EM surveys are an excellent targeting tool for individual drill holes, they have limited spatial reach and often don’t represent the ‘big picture’ potential,” the company added.
Elsewhere on Andover, Azure’s regional exploration program will continue through 2021.
This will comprise surface, down hole and airborne geophysical surveys, plus follow-up diamond core and reverse circulation drilling.
That drilling will take place after heritage clearances of the sites have been finalised.
Diamond drilling is continuing at VC-07 with two rigs exploring the down-dip and western side extensions of the system, with a third rig to join the hunt this month.