Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZS) has fielded broad, high-grade nickel hits thanks to resource definition drilling at the Ridgeline nickel-copper-cobalt deposit, part of its 60%-owned Andover Project in WA.
The base metal explorer drilled 61 diamond holes, covering 33,120 metres, across the sulphide deposit in a bid to scale up mineralisation.
Nameplate results from this batch of assays include:
- 31.8 metres at 1.41% nickel, 0.88% copper and 0.06% cobalt;
- 19.3 metres at 1.44% nickel, 0.40% copper and 0.06% cobalt; and
- 27.7 metres at 1.04% nickel, 0.43% copper and 0.04% cobalt.
More results are expected from this strongly mineralised intersection, while a mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the Ridgeline deposit is in the works.
Setting the course for MRE
Azure managing director Tony Rovira said: “The Ridgeline nickel-copper-cobalt deposit continues to grow in size and scale with another round of extremely positive drill results adding significantly to the known mineralised zones.
“The steeply plunging strongly mineralised shoots demonstrate significant vertical extent and still remain open up and down plunge.
“The central cores of these shoots are characterised by zones of high-grade semi-massive to massive nickel and copper sulphides surrounded by a broad halo of disseminated sulphide mineralisation.
“We now have sufficient drill density for geological modelling of the deposit and to complete a mineral resource estimate.”
The results are in
More strong assays from recent drilling at Ridgeline include:
- 7 metres at 1.33% nickel, 0.48% copper and 0.06% cobalt from 446.8 metres;
- 7.1 metres at 1.02% nickel, 0.69% copper and 0.04% cobalt from 422.8 metres;
- 3.8 metres at 1.84% nickel, 0.47% copper and 0.09% cobalt from 508.8 metres and 4 metres at 1.35% nickel, 0.31% copper and 0.07% cobalt from 520.7 metres;
- 2.9 metres at 2.61% nickel, 1.05% copper and 0.11% cobalt from 458.1 metres;
- 5.7 metres at 1.54% nickel, 0.32% copper and 0.07% cobalt from 485.1 metres, including 2.2 metres at 2.79% nickel, 0.44% copper and 0.12% cobalt from 488.6 metres; and
- 1.8 metres at 3.03% nickel, 0.44% copper and 0.12% cobalt from 89.4 metres.
What's more, a detailed geological and structural interpretation of Ridgeline’s central portion has defined two northwest-plunging shoots —nicknamed East and West — that include broad widths of massive and semi-massive nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation.
Another zone of high-tenor mineralisation — dubbed the North Shoot —was discovered in a higher stratigraphic position, roughly 140 metres north of the main Ridgeline mineralised horizon.
As such, the recent assays from Ridgeline confirm Azure’s interpretation that each of the identified shoots contain high-grade massive and semi-massive nickel and copper sulphides at their core with a surrounding, broad halo of disseminated sulphide mineralisation.
Next up
With the resource drill-out at Ridgeline under its belt, Azure is on the hunt for other nickel-copper occurrences within the broader Andover project.
Beyond drilling, fieldwork like mapping and rock chip sampling is underway to generate and refine base metal targets.
In particular, Azure is taking the magnifying glass to Andover’s Southern Mineralised Corridor, where the Seaview, Skyline, Atrium and Pipeline prospects show great promise.
The explorer will process and interpret results in the coming months, while a fixed-loop electromagnetic survey is planned for high-priority areas.