Azure eyes resource boost as assays tabled

Azure Minerals continues to grow the scale of the Ridgeline deposit with drilling returning more broad zones of nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide mineralisation.

Notable results from the latest batch of assays are 31.8m grading 1.41% nickel, 0.88% copper and 0.06% cobalt (ANDD0172), 19.3m at 1.44% nickel, 0.4% copper and 0.06% cobalt (ANDD0176) and 27.7m at 1.04% nickel, 0.43% copper and 0.04% cobalt.

This follows on Azure Minerals’ (ASX:AZS) metallurgical test work achieving recoveries of 80% nickel and 77% copper into concentrates grading 13% and 25.5% respectively.

“The Ridgeline Ni-Cu-Co Deposit continues to grow in size and scale with another round of extremely positive drill results adding significantly to the known mineralised zones,” managing director Tony Rovira said.

“The steeply plunging strongly mineralised shoots demonstrate significant vertical extent and still remain open up and down plunge. The central cores of these shoots are characterised by zones of high grade semi-massive to massive nickel and copper sulphides surrounded by a broad halo of disseminated sulphide mineralisation.

“We now have sufficient drill density for geological modelling of the deposit and to complete a mineral resource estimate.”

Besides the assays received to date, the company is also awaiting assays from hole ANDD0177 which intersected 15.9m of disseminated, heavily disseminated, semi-massive and massive nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation from 508.2m.

Resource drilling

The latest assays were returned from resource definition drilling of 61 diamond holes totalling 33,120m, which has defined high grade shoots of massive and semi-massive sulphides hosted within broad halos of lower grade disseminated sulphide mineralisation.

Drilling to date has consistently intersected the Ridgeline mineralised system over an east-west strike length of more than 350m and to depths between 200m and 500m below surface.

Ridgeline’s central portion has been interpreted to host two northwest-plunging shoots, each of which comprises broad widths of massive and semi-massive nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation and host thick central cores of sulphide accumulation.

Widths and grades of mineralisation increase towards the centre of each shoot, which remain unconstrained at depth.

An additional zone of high tenor mineralisation has been intersected in a higher stratigraphic position about 140m north of the main Ridgeline mineralised horizon.

This mineralisation remains unconstrained along strike and at depth with a strong response in DHEM surveys indicating strong continuity extending out from the mineralised drill intersections.

Forward plans

Within the broader Andover project, drilling is continuing on other known occurrences of nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide mineralisation, such as at Seaview and Skyline and following up anomalism at the Atrium and Pipeline prospects.

Additionally, Azure’s other exploration activities continue to generate and refine further targets across the Andover project.

These include project-wide geological mapping and rock chip sampling programs have progressed from detailed exploration of the Southern Mineralised Corridor between Andover and Seaview to the discovery and definition of new prospective horizons further to the northeast.

Meanwhile, surface fixed-loop electromagnetic surveying is focused on highly prospective areas where gossans and nickel-copper sulphides have been mapped at surface.

Results from these programs will be used to generate and define future high priority targets for drill testing.

This article was developed in collaboration with Azure Minerals (ASX:AZS), 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.