Aeris Resources Limited (ASX: AIS) has announced a positive update on the diamond drilling at its Murrawombie underground mine, part of its Tritton Copper Operations in NSW.
The company reported that mineralisation at the Murrawombie underground mine has extended beyond the current Indicated Mineral Resource envelope by 50 metres down plunge. AIS said that the new Hanging Wall mineralisation also defined over a 170 metre strike length.
The company also reported high-grade drill results. Significant assay results include 15.25m @ 3.07% Cu, 30.50m @ 2.57% Cu, 13.70m @ 2.18% Cu, 34.70m @ 2.06% Cu, and 17.30m @ 2.05% Cu.
Tritton Copper Operations
The Tritton Copper Operations located near the town of Nyngan in central New South Wales is operated by Tritton Resources Pty Ltd, a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Aeris Resources Limited.
The Tritton Copper Operations is comprised of two underground mines, Tritton Underground Mine (Tritton) and Murrawombie Underground Mine (Murrawombie). The combined ore production from both mines is treated at the 1.8 million tonnes per annum Tritton processing plant.
There are also four additional advanced mining projects (Avoca Tank, Budgerygar, Budgery, and Murrawombie Open Pit) scheduled for future production, which together with Tritton and Murrawombie form the current Life of Mine plan.
The company also has a 1.8 Mtpa copper processing plant at the Tritton Copper Operations.
In FY2019, Tritton Copper Operations produced 26,852 tonnes of copper and in FY2020 is targeting production of between 23,500 tonnes and 24,500 tonnes of copper.
Murrawombie deposit
The Murrawombie deposit is located in the southern area of the Girilambone Complex. The development of Murrawombie commenced in 2016 and the mine reached full production rates during 2018.
Strategically, Murrawombie was developed to replace the now exhausted North East and Larsen underground mines.
The Murrawombie deposit remains open at depth, presenting the opportunity for production to increase over time, and/or extending the life of the operation.
Drilling at Murrawombie
The company had commenced diamond drilling programme at its Murrawombie underground mine.
The drillholes targeted the periphery of the main mineralised body (102 lode) and down plunge extensions beneath the Indicated Mineral Resource. Drillholes were also extended further into the Hanging Wall (HW) beyond the main mineralised lodes at Murrawombie
The company announced that assay results have returned from recent underground drilling activities.
High-grade drill results
AIS has now reported a highly encouraging update on recent diamond drilling results at its Murrawombie underground mine.
Down Plunge Drilling
Significant assay intercepts down-plunge include 15.25m @ 3.07% Cu (MWGC509); 34.70m @ 2.06% Cu (MWGC507); 4.60m @ 2.63% Cu (MWGC500); and 17.30m @ 2.05% Cu (MWGC496).
50 m extended
The company said that this drill program has extended the down plunge extents a further 50 metres beyond the June 2019 Mineral Resource outline and mineralisation remains open down plunge.
AIS said that drilling activities will continue to focus on testing the down plunge extents of the main mineralised lode.
Hanging Wall Drilling
It may be noted that copper sulphide mineralisation has been intersected in most drillholes extended into the HW.
More than 170 m strike length
The company reported that copper mineralisation within the HW has been traced over a strike length in-excess of 170 metres and the increasing number of drillholes intersecting mineralisation over a significant strike length is an excellent indication of the prospectivity surrounding the known mineralised system at Murrawombie.
Encouraging drill results
Some of the significant drillhole assay intervals include 30.50m @ 2.57% Cu (MWGC405); 13.70m @ 2.18% Cu (MWGC436); 9.75m @ 2.14% Cu (MWGC464); 4.95m @ 4.72% Cu (MWGC489); and 4.70m @ 2.08% Cu (MWGC506).
What’s next?
The company announced that drilling will continue at Murrawombie with additional drilling planned to test the extents of the mineralised system further.
Aeris expressed confidence that with additional exploration there is significant potential to increase the Mineral Resource base at Murrawombie, both along strike and down plunge.
Management statements
Aeris Resources Executive Chairman, Andre Labuschagne, said: “These latest drilling results at Murrawombie are significant as they show that mineralisation continues beyond the current Indicated Mineral Resource envelope, both down plunge and into the Hanging Wall.”
