Auroch Minerals’ drilling returns further Nepean high-grade nickel sulphide intersections

Auroch Minerals Ltd (ASX:AOU) has received further high-grade nickel sulphide intersections in the latest assays from a maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at Nepean Nickel Project in Western Australia. Results from the first four of the 10 holes of the 3,500-metre program include: 2 metres at 2% nickel and 0.3% copper from 66 metres, including 1-metre at 2.9% nickel and 0.36% copper (NPRC043); and 4 metres at 0.77% nickel and 0.05% copper from 25 metres, including 1-metre at 0.94% nickel and 0.05% copper (NPRC042). These results are in addition to the strong intersections from the first six drill-holes which included: 3 metres at 3.70% nickel and 0.33% copper from 91 metres, including 2 metres at 5.09% nickel and 0.47% copper; 1-metre at 5.57% nickel and 0.25% copper from 60 metres;  2 metres at 3.02% nickel and 0.30% copper from 55 metres; and 3 metres at 1.35% nickel and 0.10% copper from 40 metres, within a broader zone of 18 metres at 0.76% nickel and 0.02% copper from 25 metres. Five more drill-holes have been prioritised to further test key areas of this shallow near-mine high-grade mineralisation and will be drilled immediately with results expected within the next two-three weeks. “Mineralisation extends over 500 metres” Auroch managing director Aidan Platel said: “We are very pleased with the latest batch of results from the shallow near-mine drilling at Nepean. “Drill-hole NPRC042 has delineated the continued trend of Sill 3 mineralisation to the south of the high-grade intersections previously announced, whilst drill-holes NPRC043 and NPRC044 were drilled further south again to test a modelled ‘pinch out’ position of the Sill 3 mineralisation at the southern margin of the mineralised channel. “The recent results have continued to build upon our understanding and geological model of the shallow high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation that now extends for over 500 metres of strike, and with that our team has recognised the need to drill several more holes into critical areas of this mineralisation. “These holes will be drilled immediately and the samples will be prioritised for assaying.” Next steps A total of 20 drill holes have been completed for around 2,400 metres of the maiden RC drilling program at Nepean, comprising 10 shallow near-mine drill-holes and 10 regional drill-holes testing aeromagnetic targets along the 10 kilometres of prospective strike to the north of the historic Nepean nickel mine. The upcoming exploration programs for Nepean this month include: Another 10-15 days of drilling comprising the additional planned shallow drill holes near the historic Nepean mine; and A high-powered ground MLEM survey over critical target areas of the 10 kilometres of regional strike to the north and south of the historic mine area. Platel said: “We also look forward to commencing a high-powered ground moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) survey this month over priority target areas of the 10 kilometres of strike that we have at Nepean, which we believe will generate significant high-potential targets for the next phase of drilling.” Additionally, a diamond drill rig has been sourced from Seismic Drilling to test the high-priority aeromagnetic anomalies along strike from the Horn Prospect at the company’s Leinster Nickel Project and is scheduled to begin next week.