Auroch Minerals intersects thick nickel sulphides at Leinster regional prospects

Auroch Minerals Ltd (ASX:AOU) (FRA:T59) is encouraged by assays received from completed diamond drilling at Woodwind and Percussion prospects of the 100%-owned Leinster Nickel Project in Western Australia. Assays from the first four diamond drill holes have confirmed thick intersections of disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation within fertile ultramafic rocks up to 5 kilometres along strike from the Horn prospect. Assays are pending for a fifth diamond drill hole in which stringers of nickel sulphide mineralisation were observed. The four holes are part of a five-hole (1,660 metres) regional drill program designed to test the high-potential Woodwind and Percussion prospects. “Exceptional start” Auroch managing director Aidan Platel said: “This has been an exceptional start to our regional exploration at the Leinster Project. “After outstanding shallow high-grade nickel-copper sulphide results from drilling at the Horn Prospect in late 2020, we were intrigued by what the magnetic anomalies along strike from the Horn may hold, most of which had never seen a drill hole.” Great success The first-pass drill program was described as a great success, with several holes intersecting thick cumulate phases of ultramafic rocks with zones of ‘cloud’ nickel sulphides. Best results include: 72 metres at 0.46% nickel from 212 metres including 4 metres at 0.61% from 233 metres and 14 metres at 0.57% from 258 metres; 8 metres at 0.30% nickel from 296 metres to end of hole (EOH) within elevated nickel values (higher than 0.25% nickel) and observed disseminated nickel sulphides over 88 metres from 216 metres; and 2 metres at 0.45% nickel from 388 metres including 1-metre at 0.61% from 389 metres. Platel said: “The results from just our first four drill-holes have already shown that these aeromagnetic highs at the Woodwind and Percussion prospects do indeed define thick fertile ultramafic units that have cumulate ultramafic phases with disseminated nickel sulphides. “That is, exactly the geology seen proximal to the massive nickel sulphide mineralisation at Rocky’s Reward and Perseverance, one of the largest nickel sulphide deposits in the world that is only 35 kilometres to the north of our Leinster Project. “The diamond drilling has been particularly important for our geology team to see these all-important textures and structures and has helped them to identify the overturned structural setting at Woodwind, similar to that of the Horn.” Presence of stringers The company is waiting for results from the fifth diamond drill hole (HNDD0011) completed at Woodwind Prospect. Stringers of pyrrhotite and pentlandite (nickel sulphide) sulphides were observed in the ultramafic rock close to the basalt – ultramafic contact and confirmed with a portable XRF machine. The presence of stringers of nickel sulphides close to the basal contact further confirms the prospectivity of the target area and suggests the company is getting closer to vectoring in on massive nickel sulphide mineralisation at the prospect. Platel said: “The presence of nickel sulphide stringers in hole HNDD0011 suggests we are getting closer to significant accumulations of nickel sulphides, and we are eager to see what the pending DHEM and assay results will tell us as we attempt to vector in on massive nickel sulphide mineralisation in this highly prospective trend.” DHEM surveys Nine RC drill-holes were also completed for 1,493 metres at the Woodwind and Percussion prospects, as well as other high-priority regional targets such as Brass and Firefly prospects. Assays are pending for these holes and are expected in approximately three weeks. DHEM surveys are being completed on all drill holes to identify any conductors in or around the completed holes that may potentially indicate massive nickel sulphide mineralisation. These surveys will be completed this week and any identified conductors will be used to target the next phase of drilling. Upcoming program The upcoming results and work program for Auroch include the following: RC drilling at the Leinster Nickel Project – assay results pending; DHEM on all completed diamond and RC drill holes at Leinster Nickel Project – to be completed over the next week; Next phase of RC drilling at high-priority target areas of the 10 kilometres of the strike at the Nepean Nickel Project – underway; Major ground Moving-Loop EM (MLEM) survey at the Nepean Nickel Project – underway, expected to be completed within one week (weather permitting); and RC drill program at the Ragless Range Zinc Target of the Arden Project, South Australia – planning and permitting underway.