Azure drilling returns highest grade intersections at Andover

Azure’s VC-07 East continues to shape up as a significant deposit with ongoing drilling returning some of the highest grade intersections recorded to date.

The latest round of results included a top hit of at 4.1m grading 3.34% nickel, 0.87% copper and 0.14% cobalt from 238.7m downhole within a broader 8.4m zone at 2.58% nickel, 0.71% copper and 0.11% cobalt from 234.4m in ANDD0061.

Azure Minerals’ (ASX:AZS) other drill results have served to further reinforce the continuity of thickness and grade of mineralisation at VC-07 East within the Andover project near Karratha that match and in some cases exceed its expectations.

Drilling to date has expanded the east-west strike of the deposit to more than 400m, extended mineralisation updip to within 50m of surface and confirmed that the mineralised system remains open down-dip to a depth of more than 500m below surface.

“The Andover VC-07 East nickel-copper sulphide deposit continues to grow on multiple fronts. The ongoing resource definition program continues to deliver substantial mineralised intersections, including these latest results which are some of the highest grade drill hits received to date,” managing director Tony Rovira said.

“Importantly, the ongoing drill program continues to expand the deposit both along strike and closer to surface.

“VC-07 East is shaping up to be a significant nickel-copper sulphide deposit with consistent broad widths of mineralisation, including internal massive sulphide zones that host high grades of nickel and copper.

“We’re moving quickly to determine the size and economic value of the deposit by progressing both the maiden mineral resource and the development studies program towards publication next year.”

VC-07 East drilling

Three rigs are currently drilling both infill and resource definition holes around the clock at VC-07 East with 76 holes drilled to date.

This intensive drilling is aimed at supporting a robust maiden resource estimate, which is expected to be completed in 2022.

Besides the top hit, the latest results include:

22.6m at 1.71% nickel, 0.83% copper and 0.08% cobalt including 4.7m at 2.93% nickel, 0.4% copper and 0.12% cobalt from 390.7m and 4.5m at 2.72% nickel, 0.59% copper and 0.12% cobalt from 402.9m (ANDD0046);
10.5m at 1.52% nickel, 0.58% copper and 0.07% cobalt from 557.3m including 5.5m at 2.12% nickel, 0.61% copper and 0.09% cobalt from 562.3m (ANDD0047); and
18.2m at 1.14% nickel, 0.62% copper and 0.05% cobalt from 397.2m including 4.8m at 2.18% nickel, 1.06% cobalt and 0.08% cobalt from 397.2m (ANDD0063).

Azure has also drilled 11 holes at VC-07 West and eight holes at VC-23 while assays are pending for 30 holes.

Forward activity

Resource drilling at VC-07 East will continue as long as substantial mineralisation is intersected.

The company will then refocus the drilling campaign to expanding the VC-07 West mineralised zone to resource status and testing regional targets.

Downhole electromagnetic surveying along the VC-07 mineralised corridor continues to provide targeting for additional mineralised extensions and assisting in future drill planning.

Surface FLTEM surveys have also restarted with the objective of defining additional EM conductors and drill targets elsewhere on the Andover property.

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.