Australian base metals explorer Auris Minerals Limited (ASX: AUR) has unveiled a positive update from the regional Air Core drilling completed by Sandfire Resources Limited within the Morck Well JV in WA.
The company reported that Sandfire Resources has recommenced Regional Air Core Drilling within the Morck Well JV during March, with 135 holes for 11,627 metres completed.
Highly significant gold intercepts returned to date from the drilling include 10m at 3.55 g/t Au from 45m and 5m at 0.88 g/t Au from 70m; 10m at 1.41 g/t Au from 75m; 5m at 1.46 g/t Au from 45m; and 2m at 1.03 g/t Au from 85m.
The company said that the significant results have extended zone of mineralisation identified by regional air core drilling in 2018 which intersected 5m @ 1.63g/t Au from 70m.
AUR said that mineralisation is associated with pyrite-sericite-quartz veining within the Narracoota Formation.
Auris reported that approximately 1,000 holes remain to be drilled in the first-pass 100 x 800m and 100 x 1600m drill programs and said that infill Air Core Drilling is required.
Morck’s Well JV
Morck’s Well is located ~22km south-west of the DeGrussa Copper Mine in Western Australia.
In February 2018, Auris entered a Farm-in Agreement with Sandfire Resources NL in relation to the Morck Well East and Doolgunna Projects which cover ~430km².
As per the JV terms, Morck’s Well would be managed by Sandfire Resources NL. Sandfire has the right to earn a 70% interest in the projects upon completion of a Feasibility Study on a discovery of not less than 50,000t contained copper (or metal equivalent).
For tenements E52/2438 & ELA51/1883: Auris 100%, Sandfire Resources earning to 70%, E52/1613, E51/1033 & E52/1672: Auris 80%, Fe Ltd 20%, Sandfire Resources earning to 70%.
Drilling at Morck’s Well JV
The company announced that regional Air Core drilling had recommenced within the Morck Well JV on 1 March 2020, with a total of 135 holes for 11,627 metres, (MWAC2196 – MWAC2200 and MWAC2209 – MWAC2337).
AUR said that the current first-pass, 100 x 800m spaced program, is designed to provide initial bottom-of-hole geochemistry samples and assist in defining the interpreted stratigraphic sequence.
The company said that the drilling to date has targeted extensions to prospective Karalundi and Narracoota Formation lithologies previously defined by air core drilling completed by Sandfire.
High-grade gold results
The company announced that significant gold intercepts have been returned from the air core drilling located approximately 30 kilometres to the south west of the Sandfire’s Degrussa copper-gold mine and 1.5 kilometres east of the Jacques gold prospect.
AUR said that results have been received for 32 of the completed drill holes, (MWAC2215 – MWAC2246).
Significant results from the recent air core drilling include 10m at 3.55 g/t Au from 45m and 5m at 0.88 g/t Au from 70m – MWAC2225; 10m at 1.41 g/t Au from 75m – MWAC2226; 5m at 1.46 g/t Au from 45m – MWAC2223; and 2m at 1.03 g/t Au from 85m – MWAC2224.
The company announced that significant results have been returned from five adjacent air core drill holes on a single line of drilling, highlighting an anomalous width of 400 metres to the mineralisation. Results are pending for air core drilling completed on drill lines, 800 metres to the south west and north east.
Zone of mineralisation extended
The company said that the significant air core drill holes are located at the start of a drill extension to an existing drill line completed by Sandfire during Q3 2018. It may be noted that the last hole in the 2018 program had intersected a significant result of 5m @ 1.63g/t Au from 70m, (MWAC1001).
Updates and next steps
Auris Minerals reported that air core drilling is continuing at the Morck Well Project with approximately 1,000 holes to be drilled in the first-pass 100 x 800m and 100 x 1600m program.
The company said that the geological interpretation will be updated as exploration continues and will be used to underpin further targeting in the area.
AUR noted that the significant gold intercepts are very encouraging and strongly support follow up drilling including more closely spaced AC, (at 100 x 400m spacing), and deeper Reverse Circulation drilling testing the intersections received at depth.
The company said that further exploration along this corridor will be aided by reviewing the comprehensive geophysical datasets that Sandfire Resources has at hand. AUR said that infill drilling may be completed at 200 m x 100 m dependant on results.
Auris reported that additional work including additional drilling, downhole geophysics, and surface geophysics is being planned.Covid-19 impact: The company announced that the completion of the follow up and ongoing exploration is subject to future restrictions, if any, resulting from Sandfire’s evolving COVID-19 management plan and the directions of the State and Federal Governments.