Auroch targeting Saints Nickel Project resource upgrade

The aggressive diggers at Auroch have just kicked off a major diamond drill program at the Saints Nickel Project – with an eye to updating the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) to a predominantly Indicated resource.

The WA-based Saints Nickel Project already boasts an MRE of 1.02Mt at 2.0% nickel for 21,400kt of contained nickel with the company due to complete 3,000m more of infill drilling across the Saint Patricks and Saint Andrews prospects.

An additional 2,000m is also planned to test for down-plunge extensions to the known high- grade nickel sulphide mineralisation below the Saint Andrews prospect.

Saints scoping study underway

The results will also be used in the Saints scoping study which is due at the end of March.

Auroch Minerals (ASX:AOU) MD Aidan Platel said the infill program is, “critical to increasing the confidence in the MRE to a predominantly Indicated resource category so that it can underpin the current Saints scoping study due to be completed at the end of March.”

“[The program,] will also provide necessary bulk samples to initiate the metallurgical testwork that is also critical information for the completion of the study,” he said.

To date, the company has completed the site flora and fauna surveys, submitted miscellaneous licence applications for the future haul road location, and has begun mine design and optimisation.

Auroch Minerals — Pic: Long section of the Saints Nickel Project showing the current nickel sulphide resource and the planned pierce points from the major diamond drill program now underway

Finding that feeder

Platel said the planned concurrent exploration drilling will test down-plunge from the known high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation at the Saint Patricks and Saint Andrews prospects.

The company is searching for the “feeder” lava channel to this nickel-rich system – and the nickel sulphide mineralisation associated with such channels in Kambalda-style nickel rich deposits such as the Saints.

This article was developed in collaboration with Auroch Minerals Limited, 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.