Mining

Azure Minerals gets heritage approvals for key prospect at Andover nickel-copper deposit

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By Robin Bromby - 
Azure Minerals Andover nickel copper Mexico silver ASX AZS

Azure revealed it has received unsolicited interest in its Mexican base and precious metals assets.

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West Australian explorer Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS) is accelerating drilling at its key VC-07 nickel-copper deposit, within the Andover project, after getting heritage clearances.

The company says archaeological and ethnographical heritage surveys have been completed for all proposed access tracks and drill sites at VC-07.

Last month, Azure reported five new drill holes at VC-07 had intercepted a near-surface mineralised zone, including “significant” nickel-copper mineralisation.

The zone begins within 60m of the surface.

Well mineralised district

The company has been working with the traditional owners of the country on which Andover is located, completing archaeological and ethnographical heritage surveys for ground disturbing and clearing activities.

Azure has identified preliminary boundaries of any areas of cultural valuation and negotiated deviations around “areas of cultural sensitivity where possible”.

These surveys, along with approval of an updated program of work by the West Australian Department of Mines, Industry and Safety, have enabled Azure to be able to prepare all proposed drill sites and access tracks.

Andover is located 35km southeast of Karratha and immediately south of Roebourne with local infrastructure including airports, port access, railway, grid power, sealed highways, and support services.

Additionally, the project is in a well-mineralised district, with the Carlow Castle gold-copper-cobalt deposit 3km to the west, the now-closed Radio Hill nickel-copper mine and plant 28km to the southwest, and the Sherlock Bay nickel deposit 30km to the east.

30,000m drilling program in progress

Apart from the latest discovery, VC-23, drilling continues to expand the VC-07 body of nickel-copper sulphide.

A 30,000m diamond drilling program is in progress, with about 11,000m of that so far completed.

Two diamond drilling rigs are at present operating at VC-07.

One is focused on drilling the western strike extension while the second rig is engaged on infill drilling for resource definition.

The objective is to define a mineral resource of nickel-copper mineralisation represented by the VC-07 electromagnetic conductor.

This body is interpreted to extend east-west over a 1,050m strike length, with a down-dip extent of at least 300m to 400m.

It remains open at depth.