- Auroch Minerals (AOU) has completed downhole electromagnetic surveying at its Saints Nickel Project in Western Australia
- Surveying has highlighted strong conductors which the company will test in its next drilling program
- High-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation was intersected in one hole to the south of the project
- Modelling of results and geology is ongoing, as well as a work permit application for an aircore drilling program
- In the short term, a major diamond drilling program is planned for this quarter targeting the nickel sulphide mineralisation
- Auroch Minerals is down 3.23 per cent and shares are trading for 6 cents each
Auroch Minerals (AOU) has begun its 2020 exploration program at its Saints Nickel Project in Western Australia.
The 20 square kilometre project comprises of two mining leases and is located approximately 65 kilometres northwest of Kalgoorlie.
It has an existing high-grade JORC 2012 mineral resources estimate of 1.05 million tonnes at 2 per cent nickel and 0.2 per cent copper for 21,400 tonnes of contained nickel and 1600 tonnes of contained copper.
Down-holes electromagnetic (DHEM) surveying and modelling has now been completed for all 11 diamond holes completed last year at the project and strong conductors have been highlighted.
Additionally, assay results have been received for drill holes SNDD007 and SNDD008. These were drilled to test possible extensions to the south of the known mineralisation at Saint Andrews and the Western Contact.
SNDD007 returned encouraging results of 6.87 metres at 0.77 per cent nickel and 0.02 per cent copper from 145 metres down-hole including 1.87 metres at 1.47 per cent nickel and 0.03 per cent copper.
“The results from SNDD007 have added further to the strike, and opened up the potential of further nickel sulphide mineralisation to the south of the existing resources,” Managing Director Aidan Platel said.
Assays are pending for the remaining three drill holes, SNDD009 to SNDD011.
Currently, the company is modelling all new geological information provided by drilling so it can plan a major diamond drilling program for targeting nickel sulphide mineralisation.
“We also plan to initiate an air-core drilling programme, necessary to increase confidence in the geology and stratigraphy at Saints, which again is extremely important for targeting possible massive nickel sulphide channel mineralisation,” Aidan added.
Auroch has been granted the work permit needed for the aircore program and will commence drilling shortly.
In addition, a drilling program is planned for this quarter at Auroch’s Leinster Nickel Project. Drilling will test the Valdez Target, which is a large electromagnetic anomaly that is coincident with nickeliferous ultramafics along strike from the Waterloo Nickel deposit.
A work permit application for drilling at Leinster has been submitted to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety. This is currently under assessment.
Auroch Minerals is down 3.23 per cent and shares are trading for 6 cents each at 3:55 pm AEDT.