Avira Resources Ltd (ASX:AVW) has uncovered massive sulphides during diamond drilling at its Puolalaki Project near Gällivare in northern Sweden.
The explorer’s five-hole campaign unveiled a 36-metre massive sulphide interval within a 76-metre zone of disseminated to blebby magmatic sulphides.
Avira managing director David Deloub said: “We are extremely pleased with the success of this initial drilling program at Puolalaki and are eagerly awaiting laboratory assays of the massive sulphide intervals to confirm the indications of nickel, copper and cobalt from pXRF analyses of the core.
“We consider this early result a clear proof-of-concept for the project and are eager to push exploration of this magmatic sulphide system to fully realise the potential of the project.”
Targeted program
Avira got the drill bit spinning at Puolalaki after a fixed-loop electromagnetic survey revealed five conductors in February.
Map showing diamond drill hole locations (red dots) and the historic nickel intercept (navy triangle) at the Puolalaki Project.
The T2-Upper target — a shallow, complex conductor — bore fruit during the drill campaign, unveiling the 36-metre massive sulphide hit.
Meanwhile, the other four drill holes hit either disseminated matrix or blebby to stringer magmatic sulphides at target depths — findings Avira broadly anticipated thanks to the survey results.
What now?
Drill core from the T2-Upper target has been shipped to the Swedish municipality of Malå, where it’ll be logged and sampled ahead of assay work.
The ALS Global prep lab is expected to come back with some findings around two to three weeks from now, meaning Avira can report on assays come May.
Assuming these results are supportive, a second phase of drilling is slated for the Swedish summer and/or autumn (from June 2023).
The next round of drill hole locations will be determined based on lab assays and results from a suite of down-hole electromagnetic surveys.
About Puolalaki
Puolalaki Project comprises a single exploration permit that was home to a nickel discovery more than two decades ago.
The project is known for its nickel and copper upside, but it’s also reported to host two zones of high-grade gold.
The project is in Sweden’s premier Gällivare mining district, which is home to Europe’s largest open-cut copper mine and LKAB’s Malmberget iron ore mine.
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