Drilling starts at Azure’s ‘target-rich’ Andover nickel-copper project

Special Report: Azure Minerals (ASX:AZS) has uncovered multiple strong conductor anomalies at the Andover project, potentially indicating buried nickel sulphide bodies. A maiden 12 hole, 3,000m drilling program is now underway.

The drill bit is now spinning at the target-rich Andover project, a joint venture between Azure and the Creasy Group in the West Pilbara region of WA.

The 70sqkm Andover project 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.

In 2018, the Creasy Group made a significant nickel-copper sulphide discovery.

They drilled seven holes to test four targets characterised by geophysical anomalies and surface gossans (the exposed part of a mineralised vein) containing nickel and copper.

Six holes intersected sulphide mineralisation, which remains open in all directions.

No follow up drilling was ever undertaken, making this one of the most exciting nickel copper exploration plays in Australia.

Maiden drilling at Andover

Azure kicked off maiden exploration in August 2020 with electromagnetic surveying on 10 separate possible nickel bodies to optimise drill targeting.

Importantly, the Andover project area doesn’t appear to host sulphidic sediments, graphitic shales or other properties that may generate ‘false positives” for the EM surveys.

The first six holes of the current diamond drilling program will test along strike and down dip extensions of the high-grade nickel originally intersected at Targets 1 and 2:

Andover mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex with previous drill hole locations and mineralised intersections.

Additional drill holes are planned to test several other, as yet undrilled, anomalies.

“We’re very pleased to get our first drilling program at Andover underway so quickly, in what is a target-rich environment for nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation,” Azure managing director Tony Rovira says.

“Azure has hit the ground running with the initial six-week program of ground EM surveying now completed and our first drill program underway.

“The ground EM surveying has identified numerous electromagnetic conductors indicative of bedrock hosted sulphide mineralisation and drilling of these new anomalies will be undertaken as a matter of high priority.

“Drilling will continue through to the end of the year, with first assay results expected later this month.”

This story was developed in collaboration with Azure, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This story does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.