Ragless Range zinc next up on Auroch’s drill calendar

Auroch has been given the green light for a diamond drill program to test the Ragless Range zinc target within its Arden project in South Australia.

The five-hole program, which is expected to start in October, will test a large gravity anomaly where previous drilling had intersected shallow, high-grade mineralisation such as 12.8m grading 4.96% zinc including 3.65m at 15.47% zinc from 62.15m.

Besides the approval for its drill program, Auroch Minerals (ASX:AOU) has also reached a land access agreement with freehold landowners and signed an Aboriginal Heritage Agreement with the Nukunu Traditional Owners.

In addition, a site clearance survey will be conducted next week.

“We are very happy to have progressed all aspects of the planned drill program at Arden to this point,” managing director Aidan Platel noted.

“Having the work permit in place, along with access agreements with key stakeholders including the Nukunu Traditional Owners and the free-hold landowners, means that we are now close to being able to drill test this exciting target for high-grade zinc mineralisation.

“We will undertake a site clearance survey next week and, pending results of the survey, we will move towards preparation of the drill sites in order to be ready to commence drilling in October.”

Separately, drilling is ongoing at the company’s Nepean Deeps target with the first hole NPDD008 currently at a depth of 825m.

Ragless Range drilling

The program of up to five holes will test for sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) style zinc mineralisation that was previously intersected by the company’s diamond drilling in 2018.

This mineralisation was primarily associated with the zinc mineral smithsonite, which often occurs as a result of oxidation above/around many major zinc ore deposits.

Auroch’s planned drilling will focus on a 2km gravity anomaly in the Ragless Range syncline west of the previous drill holes.

This anomaly may be indicative of thickened mineralised horizons of high-density, high-grade zinc mineralisation.

Drill contractor Geodrill Australia is expected to mobilise to site in October to commence drilling.

The company also plans to carry out down-hole induced polarisation surveys to determine if there are any conductive units around each of the drillholes.

This article was developed in collaboration with Auroch 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.