Drilling Continues To Expand NSW Copper Project
Australian copper-gold producer and explorer Aeris Resources Limited (ASX: AIS) had had further exploration success at the Constellation deposit, located within the company’s 100% owned Tritton tenement package in New South Wales.
Executive Chairman, Andre Labuschagne, said the latest round of drilling at Constellation, including further high-grade copper assays from TAKD005 and TAKD006, continues to show that this is a very exciting discovery.
“Encouragingly, the mineralisation remains open down plunge and along strike,” Mr Labuschagne said.
Eleven drill holes have now been completed at the Constellation deposit with assay results received from the first six. Recent high grade copper assays have been received for drill holes TAKD005 (2.60m @ 6.10% Cu) and TAKD006 (5.85m @ 4.60% Cu). These high-grade copper intersections complement previously reported high grade copper assays from TAKD001 (19.95m @ 2.41% Cu3), TAKD002 (3.55m @ 22.56% Cu3) and TAKD003 (27.10m @ 1.61% Cu4)
Drilling at the Constellation deposit has focused on drill testing the larger moving loop electromagnetic (MLTEM) plate. Of the 11 drill holes completed to date, 10 have targeted the larger primary copper sulphide MLTEM plate, whilst the remaining drill hole (TAKD002) intersected a shallower supergene copper system approximately 300 metres to the west.
Copper sulphide mineralisation associated with the larger MLTEM plate is currently defined over 250 metres (down plunge) x 150 metres (strike) and remains open both down plunge and along strike to the south. The mineralised system appears to be zoned with a thick pyrite – chalcopyrite dominant “core” which becomes progressively thinner and chalcopyrite dominant toward the periphery of the mineralised system. Sulphide textures similarly change from massive and banded within the core to stringer/disseminated toward the margins.
Apart from drill hole TAKD004, each drill hole assayed to date on the larger MLTEM plate has reported high grade copper intervals, irrespective of whether the drill holes intersected the core or known margins of the mineralised system.
Mr Labuschagne said that importantly, Down hole EM (DHEM) surveying has shown the conductive plates extend below the deepest drill hole (TAKD007). These results, although not unexpected, are an exciting result and in-line with current geological expectations. A consistent theme across all deposits within the Tritton tenement package are mineralised systems that exhibit a long down plunge dimension and shorter strike dimensions.
