Auroch keeps the nickel hits coming at Horn

Special Report: Auroch’s diamond drilling program at the Horn prospect continues to highlight the ‘continuity and homogeneity’ of shallow high-grade massive sulphide mineralisation over a 500m of strike.

The second and third diamond holes returned assays of 7.3m at 2.2 per cent nickel, 0.53 per cent copper and 0.64 grams per tonne (g/t) palladium from a depth of 143m and 1.5m at 1.48 per cent nickel, 0.39 per cent copper and 0.29g/t palladium from 134.9m respectively.

What’s interesting for Auroch Minerals (ASX:AOU) is that the second hole intersected the massive sulphide mineralisation 15m further north along strike from a historical intercept of 14.66m at 2.19 per cent nickel and 0.48 per cent copper.

This further extends the mineralisation past the point where it was previously thought to have pinched out.

Additionally, the intersection of massive sulphides within the third hole at Horn highlights the effectiveness of downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveying as it had targeted a historical DHEM conductor.

The first hole had logged 4.09m of massive sulphides grading 2.4 per cent nickel, 0.61 per cent copper, 0.55g/t palladium and 0.22g/t platinum.

“The excellent results from the second and third holes at the Horn have once again highlighted the shallow high-grade nature of the nickel-copper-PGE massive sulphide mineralisation at the Horn,” managing director Aidan Platel explained.

“The continuity and homogeneity of the high-grade mineralisation over 500m of strike and at such shallow depths is impressive, and we look forward to the information our geological logging and DHEM surveys will provide in order to plan the next drilling phase at the Horn.”

auroch minerals horn prospect nickel — Plan map of the Horn prospect showing completed drill programme and Ni-S mineralised trend. Pic: Supplied

Further nickel exploration

Auroch has also completed a 6,000m aircore drilling program across the Saints and Leinster nickel projects in Western Australia.

Logs and assays from these holes will provide data for its geological models and will be used to plan follow-up reverse circulation programs for the early next quarter.

Permitting has also been completed for maiden RC drilling at the high-grade Nepean nickel project with the 3,000m program expected to begin in early January.

Nepean produced 32,202 tonnes of nickel during its production life from 1970 to its closure in 1987 due to low nickel prices, leaving significant nickel sulphide resources in the ground.

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.