Auroch Minerals hits thick, shallow nickel sulphide mineralisation with grades up to 7.51% at Nepean Project

Auroch Minerals Ltd (ASX:AOU) (FRA:T59) is trading higher after intersecting thick, high-grade nickel mineralisation at shallow depths during recent reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Nepean Nickel Project south of Coolgardie in Western Australia. Assays have been received for another five drill-holes of the program, with nickel sulphide intersections including: 8 metres at 4.3% nickel and 0.37% copper from 35 metres, including 2 metres at 6.86% nickel and 0.62% copper from 37 metres; 8 metres at 3.21% nickel and 0.13% copper from 63 metres, including 2 metres at 7.51% and 0.39% from 68 metres; and 5 metres at 3% nickel and 0.79% copper from 59 metres. Further results from the remaining 17 holes of the maiden RC drill program are expected in the coming weeks, along with results from a regional aircore (AC) drill program also completed along Nepean’s 10 kilometres of prospective strike. Shares have been as much as 17% higher to 28 cents intra-day and this month have traded in the range of 17.5 cents to 28 cents. "Something uniquely special" Managing director Aidan Platel said: “We are thrilled with this latest batch of results from the shallow near-mine drilling at Nepean. “These kinds of grades and thicknesses would be impressive drill results at any depth, but to get such thick high-grade nickel sulphides at such shallow depths is something uniquely special. “As mentioned previously, the high-grade results from the first 10 drill-holes initially developed our understanding and geological model of the shallow high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation that now extends for over 500 metres of strike at Nepean, however, after those first results our team recognised the need to drill several more holes into critical areas of this mineralisation to confirm our model. “These results have exceeded all expectations and lay a solid foundation to progress forward to assessing a potential open-pit scenario at Nepean that could generate significant cash flow for the company.” Two sub-parallel nickel sulphide lenses The 15 completed near-mine drill-holes have confirmed that high-grade mineralisation occurs as two sub-parallel nickel sulphide lenses at very shallow depths which extend for over 500 metres of strike within the area of the historic Nepean nickel mine. Auroch’s maiden RC drill program at the Nepean Nickel Project comprised 32 holes for 3,397 metres. Remaining results from 17 drill-holes are expected in the coming weeks. Platel added: “We believe there is huge potential along strike for significant high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation, and the pending results will provide important data inputs for our geological model which will be used to generate high potential targets for the next phase of drilling.” Next work programs The upcoming exploration programs for April include: A high-powered ground MLEM survey will begin this month at Nepean over critical target areas of the 10 kilometres of regional strike to the north and south of the historic mine area; Diamond drilling to test the high-priority aeromagnetic anomalies along strike from the Horn Prospect will continue at the Company’s Leinster Nickel Project; RC drilling to further test the strike potential at the Horn as well as other regional targets such as the Firefly Prospect at the Leinster Nickel Project; and Modelling and drill target generation at the Nepean Nickel Project as further results are received.