Auroch hits shallow, high-grade nickel ahead of Nepean deep drilling

High-grade nickel results from the first of three holes drilled into a known zone of shallow mineralisation has Auroch looking forward to its upcoming Nepean deep drilling program.

The 4.64m intersection grading 2.99% nickel and 0.13% copper from 71.58m at the historically described “triangular ore zone” directly south of the Nepean nickel mine confirms the high-grade and high-tenor nature of the modelled near-surface nickel sulphide mineralisation.

It also marks the first diamond hole that Auroch Minerals (ASX:AOU) has drilled into the shallow high-grade mineralisation and is expected to help with understanding the assemblages and textures of the sulphides.

The drilling will also be used to initiate thin-section studies and metallurgical test work on the near-surface mineralisation.

Managing director Aidan Platel said the high nickel grades seen in NPDD007 is a testament to the high nickel content in the Nepean sulphides and highlights the potential for the company to hit very high-grade nickel intersections from zones of relatively little sulphides.

“As we draw closer to the start of our Nepean Deeps program, we are getting more excited by the potential to encounter significant nickel sulphide mineralisation,” he added.

The company recently completed a strategic planning session with several independent nickel sulphide expert geologists and geophysicists for the Nepean Deeps program, which is due to kick off within the next two weeks.

Nepean drilling

Besides the diamond drilling, the company has also drilled three reverse circulation holes totalling 744m into the discrete moving loop electromagnetic target about 1.8km south of the Nepean mine.

The conductor was coincident with a magnetic feature that drilling confirmed as a serpentinised komatiitic ultramafic.

Down-hole EM surveys of the three holes will be completed this week to confirm the source and position of the initial MLEM plate while samples have been sent to the ALS laboratory for assays.

Drilling on regional targets is also ongoing along the 10km of prospective strike at the project with 15 holes totalling 2,778m completed to date on magnetic anomalies that have not been historically drilled.

For the Nepean Deeps program, Auroch plans to drill the first two holes to a depth of 1,200m for use as both geophysical platform holes and to test projected footwall positions below previous underground workings that were cut off by pegmatite veins.

Geophysical surveys such as DHEM, as well as possible down-hole magnetometric resistivity and/or down-hole induced polarisation, will be used to test for any conductive units that may represent nickel sulphide mineralisation within a radius of about 75m to 150m from each drill hole.

Further drill-holes will then be planned to test any target areas that may arise from the initial drilling.

This article was developed in collaboration with Auroch Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.