The conductors and 78m of prospective komatiitic ultramafics provide high-priority drill targets, with the next drill-hole beginning this week.

Auroch Minerals has identified three off-hole conductors at the Nepean Deeps target through a down-hole electromagnetics survey (DHEM) at 540m, 1,025m and 1,230m during a maiden diamond drill program.

The drill program was designed to test for down-plunge extensions to the high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation below the historic Nepean mine at the Nepean Nickel Project in Western Australia.

Auroch’s (ASX:AOU) DHEM survey pinpointed three off-hole conductors within a radius of around 100–150m from drill-hole NPDD008, indicative of nickel sulphide mineralisation.

A downhole magnetometric resistivity (DHMMR) survey was also completed on drill-hole NPDD008 and identified one clear off-hole anomaly at 1,230m.

Potential for well-developed nickel sulphide mineralisation

AOU managing director Aidan Platel said the high potential for significant nickel sulphide mineralisation at the Nepean Deeps target continues to strengthen.

“Our maiden drill-hole NPDD008 into the Nepean Deeps target identified 78m of prospective komatiitic ultramafic rocks over four zones, which seemingly correlate to the four zones of ultramafics recognised in the mine stratigraphy in the old Nepean mine.

“The DHEM and DHMMR surveys have built on this prospectivity, identifying three anomalous conductors that correlate to the intervals of komatiitic ultramafics.

“All three conductors have the potential to represent significant well-developed nickel sulphide mineralisation, and hence all three are high-priority drill targets to be tested by our ongoing diamond drill program.”

Strong drill targets to be tested in next campaign

Platel said the shallowest of the conductors near the historic mine workings will be the first tested by the next diamond drill-hole into the Nepean Deeps target area, which will kick off later this week.

“The long-awaited results from our second phase of regional exploration drilling at Nepean have also successfully defined several strong drill targets with the potential to host significant nickel sulphide mineralisation, to be tested by the next campaign of regional drilling that is currently being planned.

“The enormous prospectivity of the Nepean Project is really beginning to become apparent, and we will continue with our aggressive exploration programmes as we push forward to finding that potential new nickel sulphide discovery.”

Assay results

Assay results have also been received for 14 out of the 19-reverse circulation (RC) drill holes completed in the second phase of regional drilling at Nepean.

Anomalous nickel intersections (>0.3%) were intersected in several RC holes, however Auroch said a further review is being conducted to determine if these are the result of disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation or oxidisation of the ultramafics – or in some cases, both.

Elevated gold (>0.5 g/t) was also intersected in several drill-holes with the best intersections from NPRC068, about 800m southeast of the Nepean mine, including 1m at 14.05g/t gold from 67m and 2m at 0.85g/t gold from 78m.

PGE results were also observed in several of the recent regional RC drill holes with drill hole NPRC066 intersecting 1m at 903ppb platinum and palladium from 32m, which occurs in a weathered mafic.

Next steps

A technical review of the results from NPD008 has been completed and follow-up drilling is confirmed to begin later this week.

The next drill hole into the Nepean Deeps target area will be collared about 80m west of the NPDD008 collar to test the upper 1A/1B DHEM plates.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Auroch, 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.

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