Azure Minerals all set to begin work at new WA nickel project

Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS) will begin work this month at its newly acquired Andover nickel-copper project in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Andover was one of four projects the company announced it was acquiring last month as part of a new Western Australian strategy.

A majority interest in Andover, along with similar deals on three gold projects, are being acquired by Azure from legendary prospector Mark Creasy, with his Creasy Group retaining minority interests in all four as well as being free carried to a decision to mine.

The Creasy Group has been a shareholder in Azure since 2003.

Azure, subject to shareholder approval, acquire 60% of the Andover nickel-copper project discovered by the Creasy Group in 2018. Previous drilling at the project has hit mineralisation including 7m at 2.62% nickel and 0.65% copper beginning 43m from surface.

Other intersections include 2m at 2.1% nickel and 0.44% copper from 15m down hole and a third hole with two zones: 4m at 1.1% nickel and 0.8% copper from 6m and 2m at 1.77% nickel and 0.53% copper from 62m.

Azure says exploration strategies and priorities have now been established for Andover with the company’s exploration team to begin field activities this month.

Initial 12-hole drilling program to begin next month

Azure describes Andover as a “target-rich environment for nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation”, with outcropping nickel and copper gossans and multiple geophysical conductors.

Down-hole electro-magnetic surveys have identified strong off-hole conductors in several locations and include “strong potential” for sulphide bodies down-dip and along strike.

An initial, 3,000m diamond core drilling program is planned for September to follow up the Creasy Group intersections, while additional drilling will test other priority, but as yet undrilled, targets at a later date.

Consulting geologist Neil Hutchison of Geolithic Geological Services and geophysicist Russell Mortimer from Southern Geoscience Consultants have been engaged for Andover and have completed planning for the upcoming work.

Mr Mortimer has previously been engaged by the Creasy Group to work on the Andover deposit.

Mexico projects remain important core

Azure managing director Tony Rovira said last month, when announcing the Western Australian projects, that the company had made the move due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico.

But he stressed at that time that Azure was not losing interest in that country, but also exploring ground in WA.

“It’s important for our shareholders to understand that our projects in Mexico remain an important core business for the company,” Mr Rovira added.

“However, these new projects are an exceptional opportunity to explore quality ground in partnership with a proven world-class mine-finder.”