Auroch Minerals

Nepean Nickel Project – Exploration Update

Auroch Minerals Limited (ASX:AOU) (Auroch or the Company) is pleased to announce that assay results have been received for exploration and resource drilling at the Nepean Nickel Project (Nepean; Auroch Minerals 80%; Lodestar Minerals 20%) in Western Australia.

Highlights

  • Assays received for Nepean RC drill programme comprising four holes for 695m
  • Programme comprised two infill holes at the shallow Nepean nickel sulphide resource and two exploration holes at the Nepean North IP target
  • Significant results from shallow resource drilling included:
    • 1m @ 2.08% Ni, 0.25% Cu & 0.83g/t PGE from 47m (NPRC083)
  • Resource drill-hole results will be used to potentially increase the proportion of Indicated Resources of the shallow (above 290mRL) Nepean Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 236kt @ 1.5% Ni and 0.11% Cu for 3,625t Ni & 252t of Cu1

A four-hole reverse-circulation (RC) drill programme totalling 695m was conducted over both the shallow Nepean nickel MRE and the Nepean North IP target. Two drill-holes targeted the northern portion of the shallow (top ~120m from surface) MRE at Nepean, with the aim to potentially upgrade a significant portion of the current Nepean Resource from an Inferred category to an Indicated category. Significant results from these two holes are listed below:

  • 1m @ 2.08% Ni, 0.25% Cu & 0.83g/t PGE’s (Pt & Pd) from 47m down-hole (NPRC083), and
  • 1m @ 1.18% Ni, 0.11% Cu & 0.49g/t PGE’s from 29m within a wider mineralised zone of
    4m @ 0.84% Ni, 0.05% Cu from 28m (NPRC083); and
  • 1m @ 0.72% Ni, 0.07% Cu & 0.15g/t PGE’s from 52m (NPRC082).

Importantly, these results correlate closely with the results from nearby historic drill-holes used in the current MRE of 236kt @ 1.5% Ni and 0.11% Cu for 3,625t of contained nickel and 252t of contained copper.1 The data from both the new drill-holes and the historical drill-holes will be used to update the shallow Nepean MRE, with the aim to materially increase the proportion of Indicated Resources, which is currently approximately Inferred (50%): Indicated (50%). If as expected, the upgrade in resource category will provide higher confidence in the ongoing internal scoping studies into the viability of a shallow mining operation at Nepean.

At the Nepean North prospect, two deep RC holes targeted a chargeability anomaly identified during a ground IP survey over the northern strike of the Nepean ultramafics. The chargeability anomaly was positioned on the prospective contact of the komatiitic ultramafic and the footwall basalt unit and was within proximity to an exploration hole approximately 700m to the south which intercepted fertile magnesium rich (>40% MgO) ultramafics.

The geophysical target was considered a high priority nickel sulphide target and two holes were planned to drill to ~300m and intercept the modelled chargeability anomaly. Drill-holes NPRC084 and NPRC085 were drilled to 238m and 301m, respectively. Both holes intercepted thick ultramafics, with magnetite observed within the planned target intervals.

Unfortunately, significant ground water was intercepted at approximately 200m depth in both holes which impeded the drilling; however, it was considered that both holes reached an adequate depth to test the IP target. Geochemical assays of the samples from the target intervals produced no significant results and a poor Ni:Cr ratio was observed in both holes, suggesting that the intercepted ultramafic unit was unfavourable for nickel sulphide mineralisation. The Company believes the chargeability anomaly is likely to have been caused by the magnetite mineralisation and possibly the deep saline aquifer.

Auroch Managing Director Aidan Platel commented:

“The results from the recent RC drilling into the shallow nickel mineralisation correlated well with the historic drilling in the area, which is a great result as it means we can now update the MRE and potentially increase the proportion of Indicated Resources, which is important to the ongoing Scoping Study looking towards potential short-term mining of the shallow nickel mineralisation.

On the exploration front we continue to work up new targets and systematically test them for potential new nickel sulphide discoveries.”


Click here for the full ASX Release

This article includes content from Auroch Minerals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.

AOU:AU
The Conversation (0)
Diagonal rows of nickel rolls.

Top 3 ASX Nickel Stocks of 2025

With its diverse applications in both technology and industry, nickel is a metal that will never go out of style.

Nickel is commonly used in alloys to create stainless steel, but more recently has found a modern use: batteries. As the electric vehicle trend gains steam, the base metal is in high demand for its role in lithium-ion batteries.

Nickel has encountered much volatility in the past few years. After spiking to record highs in 2022, the nickel price has been on a downward trend on oversupply from top-producing country Indonesia and economic uncertainty dampening demand.

Tariffs could further disrupt the nickel market going forward, but whether that's to the upside or the downside remains to be seen.

Against that backdrop, some Australian nickel companies are still making moves. Here the Investing News Network has listed the top nickel stocks on the ASX by year-to-date gains. Data was gathered using TradingView's stock screener on April 9, 2025, and all companies had market caps above AU$5 million at that time. Read on to learn more about them.

Keep reading...Show less
Ni-Co Energy

Ni-Co Energy

Keep reading...Show less
Nickel block on periodic table, highlighting element nickel, atomic number 28.

Western Mines Completes Maiden Resource for Mulga Tank Nickel Deposit

Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG) has completed the first mineral resource estimate for the shallow disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation at its flagship Mulga Tank project.

Located on the Minigwal greenstone belt in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields region, Mulga Tank is a nickel, cobalt, copper and platinum-group metals (PGMs) project.

According to Western Mines, the resource estimate is based on all of its drill results to date, and outlines a "significant mineralised zone" in the main body of the Mulga Tank complex.

Keep reading...Show less
Canadian flag draped over "Ni" symbol and stock chart.

Top 5 Canadian Nickel Stocks of 2025

Nickel prices experienced a volatile year in 2024 due to uncertainty on both the demand and supply sides.

This trend has continued into the first quarter of 2025 and is expected to remain for the year.

While this environment has been tough, some nickel stocks are still thriving.

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×