Auroch Minerals Limited (ASX:AOU) has successfully intersected over two metres (down-hole) of nickel-bearing massive sulphides in its ongoing diamond drill programme at the Saints Nickel Project in Western Australia.
Drill-hole SNDD013 also hit several zones of blebby, disseminated and stringer sulphides. The logged sulphide assemblages are pyrrhotite-pentlandite-chalcopyrite-pyrite, with pentlandite the principal nickel-bearing sulphide mineral present.
Managing Director, Aidan Platel, said SNDD013 was the first of three drill-holes planned for the Saint Andrews channel target, and was targeting the deeper of two strong DHEM conductors identified by Southern Geoscience Consultants (SGC) during a recent review of historic drilling data.
The modelled location of the DHEM conductor was coincident with the massive sulphide intersection, again reinforcing the validity of DHEM as an exploration tool for nickel sulphides. The intersection was approximately 15m (down-hole) above the basal footwall contact.
We are very pleased to have successfully intersected nickeliferous massive sulphides within the Saint Andrews channel target,” Mr Platel said.
“The fact that the sulphide intersection was coincident with our modelled DHEM conductor really reinforces our geological model at Saints and the ability of DHEM to vector in on nickel sulphide mineralisation.
“The sulphide assemblage is rich in pentlandite, the principal nickel ore mineral, and we look forward to receiving the assay results.
“The drill programme is continuing with another two diamond holes planned for the Saint Andrews target area.
“All holes will then be surveyed with modern high-powered DHEM in order to vector in on further potential massive nickel sulphides within this channel.
“Parallel to this we are gearing up towards the next reverse circulation (RC) drill programmes at Saints and Valdez, and we look forward to updating the market with results as they are received.”
The diamond drill-rig is currently underway on the third of the planned four-hole programme.
Results from the recent air-core drill programmes at both the T4 Target at Saints and the Valdez Prospect of the Leinster Project are currently being received and collated, and drill targets are being defined for the next phase of RC drilling at both projects later this month.