Azure Minerals uncovers more nickel-copper sulphides at Andover
This latest hole has intersected the widest nickel-copper zone at
Andover to-date.
Explorer Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS) has hit broad zones of nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation within the VC-07 mineralised corridor of its Andover project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The mineralisation was intersected in three drill holes at VC-07 West and four holes at VC-07 East. The news follows the company’s announcement in late May that an initial hole in the western part of the corridor had hit two substantial zones of nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation totalling about 66m.
As with the company’s earlier drilling, Azure managing director Tony Rovira said these latest mineralised intersections are coincident with EM conductors, “confirming the strong association of nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation with EM conductance.”
“With multiple mineralised drill hits and numerous nearby EM conductors that are yet to be drilled, the western part of the VC-07 corridor is shaping up very nicely to host a substantial body of nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation,” he added.
“Meanwhile the infill and extensional mineral resource drilling at VC-07 East continues to intersect mineralisation in line with expectations.”
New, significant results
At VC-07 West, the three additional holes intersected broad, and in some cases multiple, zones of semi-massive, matrix and heavily disseminated nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation including 10.6m from hole ANDD0045 (4m from 486.6m depth and 6.6m from 602.5m), 16.8m from 366.7m at ANDD0048 and 24.7m (7.5m from 419.7m and 17.2m from 472.4m) at ANDD0049.
Another hole, ANDD0042, hit disseminated nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation beneath the targeted electromagnetic (EM) conductor plate.
At VC-07 East, four holes hit significant nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation, confirming that the eastern zone demonstrates good internal continuity of grade and thickness, in line with Azure’s expectations. Results from this eastern zone include sulphide intersections measuring up to 25.9m from 389.2m and 16.8m from 460.1m.
Further drilling planned
To-date, Azure has completed 49 diamond drill holes for a total of 21,943m at Andover, with 41 holes drilled at VC-07 and eight holes drilled at the VC-23 prospect.
The company said further drilling is continuing at VC-07 West with the focus on testing the DHTEM conductors and following the mineralisation along strike to the east and west, up-dip closer to surface, and deeper down-dip.
Two diamond drill rigs are on-site at VC-07 West while a third rig is continuing to infill drill VC-07 East for mineral resource estimation purposes.
Additional drilling is also being planned for other high priority targets across the Andover project including VC-23, VC-18 and VC-41.
Selling off Mexican assets
Over the past few months, Azure has been conducting a strategic review of its precious and base metals assets in Mexico including the wholly-owned Alacrán silver-gold-copper and Oposura zinc-lead-silver projects.
Last week, the company announced its intention to sell the assets to focus on its flagship Andover project.
Azure said it has now mandated PCF Capital Group to begin a targeted and structured sale process over the next few months and will update shareholders as this progresses.