Azure and Creasy Group have demonstrated their confidence in their Andover nickel-copper-cobalt joint venture project in WA by increasing the project area by 55%.
The two companies have applied for exploration licence applications E47/4700 and E47/4701 which cover 38.4km2 on the eastern boundary of the project and host eastern extensions of the Andover Mafic-Ultramafic Intrusive Complex.
Both licence applications are considered to be prospective for hosting nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide mineralisation similar to the Andover and Ridgeline deposits which Azure Minerals (ASX:AZS) has discovered in E47/2481.
That 40% partner Creasy Group – owned by legendary prospector Mark Creasy – has decided to take part in the licence applications further underlines their potential.
Initial reconnaissance exploration has already identified outcropping nickel and copper-rich rocks (gossans) and also strong bedrock-hosted electromagnetic conductors.
Azure has also reached an agreement with the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation to include the new licence applications into their existing Heritage Protection Agreement, which clears them for grant.
Upcoming activity
The licence applications include the high-priority VC-55 target, a strong electromagnetic conductor detected by Azure’s 2021 airborne electromagnetic survey.
Additionally, several occurrences of outcropping gossans containing anomalous nickel and copper mineralisation were identified during reconnaissance visits.
The company plans to carry out detailed on-ground exploration to assess these and other targets once these tenements are granted.
Initial activities will include geological mapping, sampling and surface EM surveys. This will be followed by drill-testing of defined anomalies.
Previous exploration on the company’s adjacent E47/2481 tenement had identified multiple occurrences of nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide mineralisation including the Andover and Ridgeline deposits.
Additional mineralisation has also been discovered at both the Seaview and Skyline prospects where drilling is continuing.
These zones are contained within a fertile, nickel-rich corridor that has been well-defined over 4km from Ridgeline to Seaview.
Importantly, not only has further exploration indicated that this prospective horizon extends for at least another 6km to the northeast, reconnaissance during initial site visits has suggested that the mineralised corridor extends into E47/4700.
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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.