Aeris Resources Limited (ASX: AIS) has announced a highly positive update on its recent drilling at the Murrawombie underground mine, part of the Tritton Copper Operations in New South Wales.
The company reported that high grade copper was intersected beyond current Murrawombie Mineral Resource footprint.
Significant hits include 6.25m @ 4.64% Cu; 12.75m @ 3.62% Cu; 7.85m @ 3.64% Cu; 14.00m @ 2.77% Cu; and 20.20m @ 2.52% Cu.
Aeris said that massive sulphides were intersected 60 metres along strike from current Mineral Resource. The copper mineralisation remains open along strike and down plunge.
The company noted that these results indicate the continuation of recent success from Tritton exploration activities. The drilling to test for down plunge extensions had commenced in mid-August.
The company also reported that the results will be included in an updated MRE for Murrawombie, to be completed before the end of the current quarter.
Diamond drilling programme at Murrawombie
The Murrawombie underground mine is a part of the Tritton Copper Operations. It is characterised by multiple northwest – southeast trending stacked sulphide lodes of varying strike length (50 metres to >200 metres) dipping moderately to the northeast.
Aeries had recently completed a diamond drilling programme, targeting extensions to the dominant mineralised lode (lode 102) outside of the current Mineral Resource envelope.
The 102 lode is the dominant lens which contains the majority of the current Mineral Resource base. Sulphide mineralisation within the 102 lode is characterised by massive sulphides which typically contains high grade copper intersections, frequently exceeding 2% copper.
High-grade copper intersections
The company reported that the diamond drilling program returned excellent results along strike and down plunge.
Highlights include 6.25m @ 4.64% Cu (MWGC418); 12.75m @ 3.62% Cu (MWGC443); 7.85m @ 3.64% Cu (MWGC408); 14.00m @ 2.77% Cu (MWGC441); and 20.20m @ 2.52% Cu (MWGC440).
Results extend sulphide mineralisation
The company reported that the recent drill results extend the massive sulphide mineralisation up to 60 metres along strike, beyond the northern extents of the current Mineral Resource envelope.
Aeries said that copper sulphide mineralisation was intersected beyond the 102 lode further into the Hanging Wall (HW).
The company said that the drill intersections in the HW of the 102 lode are an excellent indication of the prospectivity surrounding the known mineralized system at Murrawombie, highlighting the potential to increase the Mineral Resource base, both along strike and down plunge, with additional exploration.
Further drilling planned
Aeries said that even though the drill spacing is sparse, there appears to be potentially multiple sulphide lenses in the HW to the 102 lode.
The company said that geological work is ongoing to interpret the number of lodes and their spatial continuity. Further drilling is planned in FY20 to assist with the interpretation and geological modelling process.
The company announced that the drill rig will complete two wide spaced drill holes planned to intersect the interpreted 102 lode horizon 150 metres along strike and 190 metres down plunge beyond the known extents.
Aeries expressed confidence that the results from both drill holes will assist in understanding the potential of the larger mineralised footprint and assist with future drill planning and mine design.
What’s next?
Aeries said that the drilling will continue at Murrawombie with additional drilling planned to test the extents of the mineralised system further.
AIS said that the latest drill results will be included in an updated Mineral Resource estimate for Murrawombie, which will be completed before the end of the current quarter.
Management comments
Aeris Executive Chairman Andre Labuschagne said: ”The latest drilling results from Murrawombie are very promising and demonstrate the prospectivity for further high-grade extensions along strike to the north and down plunge.
Since we commenced operations at the Murrawombie underground mine in FY17 it has consistently exceeded expectations on both tonnes and grade”
