Auroch Minerals

Quarterly Activities Report, For The Period Ending 31 December 2022

Auroch Minerals Limited (ASX:AOU) (Auroch or the Company) is pleased to provide the following report on its activities during the December 2022 quarter. The Company’s primary focus during the reporting period was progressing exploration activities at the Nepean Nickel Project (Nepean), Arden REE-Copper-Zinc project (Arden), and advancing its Kangaroo Hills Lithium Project (KHLP) in WA, and Nevada Lithium Projects (NLP) in USA.


HIGHLIGHTS

NEPEAN NICKEL PROJECT, WA (80%)

  • Assays received from reverse circulation (RC) drill programme comprising four holes for 695m.The RC drill programme was conducted over both the shallow Nepean nickel mineral resource estimate (MRE) and the Nepean North IP target. Programme comprised two infill holes at the shallow Nepean nickel sulphide resource and two exploration holes at the Nepean North IP target, significant results include:
    • 1m @ 2.08% Ni, 0.25% Cu & 0.83g/t PGE from 47m (NPRC083)

KANGAROO HILLS LITHIUM PROJECT (KHLP), WA (80%)

  • Exploration drill-holes NPRC084 and NPRC085 at the Nepean North prospect were re-assayed for lithium, caesium and tantalum (LTC) mineralisation. Assays returned high-grade lithium within spodumene-bearing pegmatite.
    • 6m @ 1.38% Li2O from 198m, including
      • 2m @ 3.26% Li2O from 198m (NPRC084)
  • Field mapping completed at KHLP, which identified numerous outcropping pegmatites which will be targeted in the upcoming phase 1 3,000m RC drilling programme.
  • A highly prospective cluster or potential swarm has been identified close to mineralised drill hole intercepts previously reported (6m @ 1.38% Li2O).

NEVADA LITHIUM PROJECT (NLP), USA (80%)

  • Subsequent to the December 2022 quarter, the NLP increased its land holding in the Tonopah region by over 33km2, which represents a 50% increase of the NLP footprint.
  • Geological mapping identified new drill targets within the Nevada Lithium Project - targeting lithium claystone mineralisation.

ARDEN REE-COPPER-ZINC PROJECT, SA (90%)

  • Field exploration commenced to evaluate the Rare Earth Elements (REE) potential at the Arden Project.
  • Assays received for the nine rock-chip sample, confirming the REE prospectivity at the Hawker and Kanyaka prospect areas.

CORPORATE

  • Mr Aidan Platel resigned from his position of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective from the 1st of January 2023.
  • Mr Robin Cox was appointed to the Auroch Board as Technical Director, effective from 1 January 2023.
  • Ms Silfia Morton was appointed as a Joint-Company Secretary, replacing Mr Cameron O’Brien, effective from 1 December 2022.
  • Successfully completed a Placement of $2,650,000 (before costs) from the issues of 55,208,334 new shares at an issue price of $0.048 per share.
  • Cash balance as at 31 December 2022 of $4.198 million.
MARCH QUARTER PLANNED ACTIVITY

The upcoming work programmes and results for Auroch include the following:

  • Finalise Scoping Study for the Saints Nickel Project
  • Results from soil sampling at the Arden REE-Copper-Zinc Project
  • Maiden drill programme at the Nevada Lithium Project (NLP)
  • Maiden drilling programme at Kangaroo Hills Lithium Project (KHLP)

COMPANY PROJECTS – WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Nepean Nickel Project (80%)

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, 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 (figure 2):1

  • 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.2 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 successful, as expected, the upgrade in resource category will provide a higher confidence in the ongoing internal scoping studies into the viability of a shallow mining operation at Nepean.


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)
Cobalt, nickel and copper on periodic table.

Chalice Mining Makes Metallurgical "Breakthrough" at Gonneville Project

Chalice Mining ( ASX:CHN,OTC Pink:CGMLF) said on Monday (February 17) that it has made an important metallurgical breakthrough at its Gonneville projected, located in Western Australia.

The company said a hydrometallurgical process for nickel concentrate is no longer needed, as recent testwork results confirm that two saleable, smelter-grade flotation concentrates can be produced across the entire sulphide resource.

Managing Director and CEO Alex Dorsch said in a press release that this new information "materially reduces" capital and operating costs for Gonneville, also substantially reducing technical risk and process complexity.

Keep reading...Show less
"Anglo American" written on a phone screen with the words "buy" and "sell" behind it.

Anglo American to Sell Nickel Business to MMG for Up to US$500 Million

Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:AAUKF) has agreed to sell its Brazil nickel operations to MMG Singapore Resources, a subsidiary of MMG (OTC Pink:MMLTF,HKEX:1208), for a cash consideration of up to US$500 million.

According to a Tuesday (February 18) press release, the transaction includes Anglo American’s Barro Alto and Codemin ferronickel operations, along with two development projects, Jacaré and Morro Sem Boné.

The purchase price comprises an upfront payment of US$350 million, a potential price-linked earnout of up to US$100 million and a further US$50 million contingent on a final investment decision for the development projects.

Keep reading...Show less
A small pile of nickel.

Nornickel's Net Profit Dips 37 Percent as Western Sanctions and Market Hurdles Persist

Moscow-based miner Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) reported a 37 percent decline in net profit for 2024, citing ongoing western sanctions and lower metal prices as primary factors affecting its financial performance.

According to the company’s 2024 financial results, consolidated revenue fell 13 percent year-on-year to US$12.5 billion. EBITDA was down 25 percent to US$5.2 billion, with net profit dropping 37 percent to US$1.8 billion.

Company President Vladimir Potanin said that geopolitical restrictions, reduced access to western equipment and shifting trade patterns have negatively impacted the company’s ability to generate cashflow.

Keep reading...Show less
Blackstone Minerals Managing Director Scott Williamson.

Blackstone Minerals Expands Portfolio with Mankayan Copper-Gold Project Acquisition

In a strategic move that marks a significant expansion beyond the company's nickel-mining operations, Blackstone Minerals (ASX:BSX,OTC Pink:BLSTF,FWB:B9S) has announced a merger of equals with IDM International to acquire the Mankayan copper-gold project in the Philippines.

This acquisition positions Blackstone to leverage its expertise in the evolving mining landscape, driven by energy transition requirements, according to Blackstone Managing Director Scott Williamson.

"We can leverage (the) experience that we have from operating in Vietnam, which is a similar jurisdiction. We've operated in Vietnam for the last five or six years; we've been focused on nickel in Vietnam. Now we can use that team and our expertise in developing mines in Vietnam to the Mankayan project in the Philippines," he explained.

The Mankayan project is renowned for its high-grade copper and gold potential, supported by impressive historical drill results. Williamson emphasized the project's significance, indicating the potential for a substantial resource expansion.

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×