Mining

Azure Minerals kicks-off New Year with more drilling success at Andover nickel-copper project

Go to Lorna Nicholas author's page
By Lorna Nicholas - 
Azure Minerals drilling Andover nickel copper project ASX AZS

Latest assays from Andover returned up to 2.31% nickel and 0.86% copper.

Copied

Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS) has kicked off 2021 with more positive drill results from its 60% owned Andover project with assays revealing broad nickel and copper zones.

Seven holes for 2,720m have been completed at Andover with all intersecting broad nickel and copper sulphide zones.

Azure noted holes ANDD0004, ANDD0005 and ANDD0006 had defined a vertical mineralised section exceeding 120m, with mineralisation remaining open up-dip and down-dip as well as to the east and west.

Highlight assays from ANDD0005 were 18.7m at 1.35% nickel and 0.68% copper from 325.3m, including 6.7m at 1.98% nickel and 0.86% copper from 325.3m.

Over at hole ANDD0006, Azure pulled up 19.2m at 1.47% nickel and 0.41% copper from 406.35m; 1.2m at 2.31% nickel and 0.64% copper from 392.7m; and 7m at 2.23% nickel and 0.63% copper from 411.35m.

Both these holes were designed to test the up and down-dip extensions to hole ANDD0004, which unearthed 16.2m at 2.09% nickel and 0.75% copper from 347.5m.

While assays are pending for ANDD0007, visual observations of drill core hole indicated a 21.7m wide intercept containing multiple nickel-copper sulphide zones from 407.9m downhole.

According to Azure, all seven holes confirm the nickel and copper sulphides are associated with a large and strong electromagnetic conductor identified during geophysical surveys.

Geophysical modelling of the conductor – named VC-07 – reveals it extends at least 1,050m to the west-northwest and is more than 200m deep.

Advancing Andover in 2021

With drilling continuing to uncover broad mineralised zones at the project, Azure plans to accelerate exploration.

The company has begun a diamond drilling program to test the full 1,050m of VC-07 as well as extensions at depth.

Drilling comprises two consecutive 15,000m campaigns with the first to test the full extent of VC-07 and the second to firm up a JORC resource.

Geophysical surveys have also identified a further 12 EM conductors across the project.

Azure plans to drill the high priority conductor during the current quarter.

Renowned prospector Mark Creasy owns the remaining 40% of Andover through his Creasy Group company.