Azure Minerals has been granted a new Exploration Licence (EL) E47/4700 at its Andover Joint Venture Project with the Creasy Group in WA.

The new EL adjoins the existing Andover tenement currently being drilled (E47/2481) and hosts abundant pegmatites prospective for lithium mineralisation.

In fact, Azure Minerals (ASX:AZS) granted tenements now completely cover all identified pegmatites in the Andover district.

The project now comprises two granted ELs covering 102km2, with a third EL application (E47/4701) expected to be granted in the second half of 2023.

Plus, all tenements that have been granted or applied for are included in the Andover Heritage Protection Agreement executed between Azure and the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation.

Extending exploration into new areas

Importantly, the addition of E47/4700 adds an extra 32km2 of ground that is highly prospective for both lithium-rich pegmatites and nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide mineralisation.

“The grant of this tenement allows Azure to extend the exploration for additional large-scale lithium mineralisation into new areas where Azure’s early field work identified numerous pegmatite outcrops containing spodumene,” MD Tony Rovira said.

“The strong prospectivity of this new area to host significant lithium deposits is supported by the presence of historical artisanal mine workings from which the associated minerals beryl and tantalite were extracted from pegmatites in the 1950s.”

In addition to the ELs, four applications have been submitted for Miscellaneous Licences for the purposes of searching for groundwater, and are expected to be granted in the second half of 2023.

Azure
Andover Lithium Project showing new tenements. Pic: Supplied (AZS)

Drilling and metallurgical testwork underway

Lithium-focused drilling continues at the project with two diamond core rigs and three reverse circulation (RC) rigs drilling along the +2,000m long corridor that hosts the AP0009, AP0010, AP0011, AP0012 and AP0014 pegmatites.

A third diamond rig is currently mobilising to site ahead of infill drilling which is set to commence shortly to delineate a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate within the AP0009-AP0014 pegmatite area.

The company is also assessing the feasibility of mobilising additional drill rigs to site to accelerate exploration and resource delineation.

Simultaneously, a metallurgical testwork program targeting the production of a spodumene concentrate has commenced, and is expected to take approximately three months to full completion.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Azure 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.

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