Battery metals explorer Azure Minerals (ASX:AZS) has returned ‘highly significant’ lithium intersections from drilling in late 2022 at the Andover Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Sulphide Project in Western Australia.
The company says the drilling completed late last year was targeting nickel intersected lithium-bearing pegmatites. Hole ANDD0199 which tested a nickel target near the VC-30 airborne electromagnetic (VTEM) anomaly intersected 7.2m @ 1.51% lithium (Li2O) including 3.1m @ 1.87% Li2O from 313.9m.
Commenting on the result, Azure Minerals Managing Director Tony Rovira said: “The Andover Project continues to deliver very positive results. Having defined 2 nickel deposits hosting robust mineral resources and then identifying multiple lithium-bearing pegmatites at surface, we have now intersected high-grade lithium mineralisation in a drillhole that was specifically testing a nickel target.
“we have now intersected high-grade lithium mineralisation in a drillhole that was specifically testing a nickel target”
This is further evidence of the substantial mineral endowment of Andover as a battery metals project hosting nickel, copper, cobalt, and now lithium.”
As previously reported by the company in November 2002, Azure accelerated the lithium exploration program by drilling near nickel sulphide targets in areas where outcropping pegmatites were present, and where drilling approvals had already been received.
Drillholes ANDD0196, ANDD0197, ANDD0198, and ANDD0199 targeted extensions of the Southern Mineralised Corridor proximal to the VC-30, VC-31, and VC-32 VTEM anomalies. The company says pegmatites outcrop in the vicinity of each target, and all 4 holes intersected pegmatites containing lithium mineralisation varying from anomalous to ‘high-grade’.
Recently received assays demonstrating ‘high-grade’ lithium include APRK00944 with 3.98% Li2O; and APRK00942 with 3.96% Li2O at the AP0010 prospect, as well as APRK01012 with 3.83% Li2O at the AP0012 prospect.
The company also notes recent follow-up mapping around the AP0010, AP0011, and AP0012 prospects have confirmed spodumene-rich pegmatite outcrop more extensively than previously recognised, which enhances the potential for this area to host a ‘sizeable’ body of lithium mineralisation.
The thickest pegmatite intersection was in hole ANDD0198 at VC-13 which drilled a 200m wide interval of pegmatite with the hole terminating in pegmatite at a downhole depth of 360.6m. This hole returned several intervals of anomalous lithium including 7.4m @ 0.13% Li2O from 158.6m.
At VC-32, the company says holes ANDD0196 and ANDD0197 both intersected several shallow pegmatites containing similar levels of lithium mineralisation.
Azure reports it has embarked on an accelerated growth strategy to advance the multi-commodity opportunity at Andover. The company says lithium exploration is being fast-tracked with a team of geologists and technicians dedicated to the operation.
An initial drilling program of 30,000m of reverse circulation (RC), and 10,000m of diamond core drilling will be undertaken to determine the scale, and depth potential of the lithium mineralisation already mapped and sampled at surface.
Azure reports ‘highest’ priority drill targets are pegmatite outcrops containing ‘high’ lithium grades at surface, and demonstrate potential for ‘significant’ volumes of mineralisation.
With analytical results from 600 pegmatite samples still pending, the company says it is likely to identify more targets over the coming months for priority drill testing.
Azure also notes project-wide geological mapping and rock chip sampling will continue in 2023, which is also expected to define further drill targets.
Azure Minerals is a battery metals explorer focused on the Andover Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Sulphide Project, which covers 70km-square in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia. The company holds a 60% interest in the project, with the remaining 40% is held by the Creasy Group.
Andover currently hosts a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 4.6 million tonnes @ 1.11% nickel (Ni), 0.47% copper (Cu), and 0.05% cobalt (Co) for 51,700 tonnes of contained nickel, 21,700 tonnes of contained copper, and 2,290 tonnes of contained cobalt.
The company also holds 3 projects in Western Australia including the wholly-owned Barton Gold and Base Metals Project near Kookynie, a 70% interest Turner River Gold Project near Port Hedland, and a 70% interest in the Coongan Gold Project in the eastern Pilbara region also shared with the Creasy Group.
Images: Azure Minerals Ltd
