Azure Minerals’ second hole at Andover hits more nickel-copper

Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS) has reported the second big nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation drilling hit in a week.

On top of the 40.7m interval details released on Monday at its 60%-owned Andover project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, the company now reports the second drill hole has intersected 14.5m of semi-massive, matrix and disseminated nickel and copper sulphide intersection.

This latest intercept began at 104.5m downhole — and has similarities with the results from the first hole.

Geophysical modelling is being confirmed by drilling

Within the intersected section, there is an internal interval of 4.05m of sulphide mineralisation that correlates with the down-dip extension of the similarly mineralised interval that was intersected by the first hole reported earlier this week.

The width and tenor of the mineralised intercept in hole two is consistent with the electromagnetic (EM) conductor plate, the company says.

This, Azure notes, is validating its geophysical modelling.

Andover was one of four projects acquired from prospector Mark Creasy’s company by Azure in 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.

The Creasy Group has retained a 40% stake in the project. The Creasy Group has been a shareholder in Azure since 2003.

Andover continuing to impress

Azure managing director Tony Rovira said Andover is continuing to impress, extending the mineralised zone for at least another 40m down-dip.

The modelling indicated that the main conductor strengthens as it gets deeper and this target is now being tested with the drilling of a third hole, he added.

“The strong correlation of EM conductors with massive to semi-massive nickel and copper mineralisation augurs well for further exploration success as numerous EM conductors identified from surface surveying remain to be tested,” Mr Rovira said.

Azure’s program at Andover covers three phases: EM surveys of 10 separate targets zones already completed; an initial, 3,000m diamond core drilling on defined targets now underway; and then EM surveys down drill holes.

A down-hole EM crew is on site and has begun surveying the second hole.

The first six holes of this first program are focused on testing along strike and down dip extensions of known mineralisation, to be followed by other holes planned to test several other, but as yet undrilled, geophysical anomalies.