Aeris Resources Limited (ASX:AIS) has announced that it has received further ‘high-grade’ copper assays from drilling at its Constellation deposit, located within the Tritton tenement package in NSW.
The drilling program has intersected near-surface ‘high-grade’ copper mineralisation over a 200m strike length, which remains open to the south and west
Key intersections include:
- TAKRC038* – 13m @ 8.64% Cu, 0.81g/t Au, 4.4g/t Ag (from 52m)
- TAKRC019* – 11m @ 8.63% Cu, 0.75g/t Au, 9.5g/t Ag (from 39m)
- TAKRC040* – 9m @ 8.20% Cu, 1.53g/t Au, 12.6g/t Ag (from 45m)
- TAKRC030 – 11m @ 4.63% Cu, 0.79g/t Au, 7.6g/t Ag (from 61m)
- TAKRC050* – 13m @ 4.11% Cu, 1.77g/t Au, 7.9g/t Ag (from 101m)
- TAKRC031 – 9m @ 3.96% Cu, 0.78g/t Au, 7.1g/t Ag (from 85m)
- TAKRC032* – 57m @ 1.34% Cu, 0.36g/t Au, 3.1g/t Ag (from 9m) incl.
- 18m @ 2.41% Cu, 0.62g/t Au, 7.7g/t Ag from (44m)
- TAKRC019* – 26m @ 1.40% Cu, 0.05g/t Au, 1.8g/t Ag (from 3m) incl.
- 8m @ 2.98% Cu, 0.02g/t Au, 3.9g/t Ag (from 16m)
Drill holes marked with * intersected excessive water and were stopped in mineralisation. Holes are planned to be re-drilled with a diamond tail (assays may differ from above results).
The drilling program has intersected near-surface ‘high-grade’ copper mineralisation over a 200m strike length, which remains open to the south and west.
Constellation deposit
The Constellation deposit is located ~45km north east from the Tritton Operation in central western NSW. The deposit was first detected via an airborne electromagnetic survey, and is defined by two modelled EM conductors based off a moving loop electromagnetic (MLTEM) survey.
The larger EM plate is ~250m (strike) x 250m (dip) and located from 150m below surface. A smaller modelled EM plate with dimensions in the range of 30 metres (strike) x 100 metres (dip) is located ~300m to the west.
Tritton Copper Operations
The Tritton Copper Operations are located near the town of Nyngan in central New South Wales, and are 100% owned and operated by Aeris Resources.
The operations comprises two underground mines along with a processing plant, which produce a combined of 1.8 million tonnes of ore per annum.
There are currently four additional mine projects earmarked for future production, which will supplement and replace production from existing operations when exhausted.
Up next
Approval has been received for an additional 45 diamond drill holes from the NSW Resources Regulator, with three rigs currently operating.
Drilling of the diamond tails is expected to be finished within weeks, with rigs then redeployed to recommence testing the southern and western extents of the mineralised system near surface.
Additional drill holes will be used to initiate an infill resource definition drill program of the mineralised system immediately below the extent of the RC drilling, and will also continue to test the deeper mineralised system, focused on extensions along strike and down plunge at depth.
“To say that the near surface drilling results at Constellation have surprised on the upside would be an understatement”
Management comments
Aeris Resources’ Executive Chairman Andre Labuschagne said “The RC drill program has been a tremendous success. To say that the near surface drilling results at Constellation have surprised on the upside would be an understatement.”
“A number of the RC drill holes encountered excessive water and had to be discontinued whilst still in visible mineralisation. RC drilling has been suspended whilst we complete these holes with a diamond tail. This is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks.”
“Near surface, high grade copper mineralisation has now been traced 200m along strike and remains open to the south and west.”
“Approval for an additional 45 diamond drill holes will allow us to commence an in- fill resource definition drill program on the upper section of the deposit.”
Images: Aeris Resources Limited