Azure drilling proves up Andover nickel-copper potential

Special Report: Azure’s belief in the prospectivity of the Andover project has been validated with significant nickel and copper assays returned from two recent holes.

ANDD0005 intersected semi-massive to massive nickel-copper sulphides with a higher grade intersection of 6.7m zone at 1.98 per cent nickel and 0.86 per cent copper topping a 18.7m interval grading 1.35 per cent nickel and 0.68 per cent copper from a depth of 325.3m.

Likewise, ANDD0006 hit a 19.2m zone grading 1.47 per cent nickel and 0.41 per cent copper from a depth of 406.35m along with shallower intervals of 3.8m at 1.59 per cent nickel and 0.83 per cent copper from 377.3m and 1.2m at 2.31 per cent nickel and 0.64 per cent copper from 392.7m.

Notably, the nickel-copper sulphide intersections coincide with the large VC-07 electromagnetic conductor, which Azure Minerals (ASX:AZS) says provides further confidence that it represents a substantial nickel-copper deposit.

Both holes tested the updip and downdip extensions of ANDD0004 that intersected 16.2m at 2.09 per cent nickel and 0.75 per cent copper from a depth of 347.5m.

Better – the three holes combine to define a vertical mineralised section exceeding 120m, with the nickel-copper mineralisation remaining open in both up-dip and down-dip directions, as well as along strike to the east and west.

Andover drilling conductor nickel copper azure minerals — Section line A-AA (looking East) with drill holes and VC-07 conductor plate. Pic: Supplied

Upcoming activity

Azure has started an intensive two phase diamond drilling program to test the full 1050m extent of mineralisation associated with the VC-07 conductor plate along with testing updip and downdip mineralisation that could exceed 200m of vertical extent.

The first 15,000m phase of drilling is designed to delineate the extent of the mineralised system while the second phase of another 15,000m will define the deposit to JORC resource standards.

Drilling of 12 separate EM conductor anomalies within the Andover project area will also begin early in the current quarter.

Nickel-rich project

The 70sqkm Andover project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region is on similar rocks to the Fraser Range, home to the Nova-Bollinger nickel-copper mine, and the Gonneville Intrusive Complex near Perth, host to Chalice Gold Mine’s (ASX:CHN) exciting Julimar nickel-copper-PGE discovery.

Famed prospector Mark Creasy’s Creasy Group made a significant nickel-copper sulphide discovery in 2018 with six of seven holes drilled intersecting sulphide mineralisation.

However, no follow up drilling was ever undertaken until Azure took up a 60 per cent interest in the project.

This article was developed in collaboration with Azure 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.