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Highlights
- Asian Battery Metals restarts phase 2 drilling at the Oval Copper-Nickel-PGE Project in Mongolia.
- DHEM results reveal 17 conductive plates, indicating strong mineralisation potential.
- Program aims to expand high-grade zones and define the deposit’s orientation.
Asian Battery Metals PLC (ASX:AZ9) has resumed diamond drilling at its 100%-owned Oval Copper-Nickel-PGE Project, located in the Gobi-Altai region of Mongolia. The phase 2 drilling program is aimed at refining the understanding of the deposit’s scale, dip, and orientation following promising initial results. This initiative is a key step in delineating the high-grade mineralised zones and exploring deeper sections within the project’s targeted areas.
The company’s drilling strategy builds upon successful results from the phase 1 program, where high-tenor massive sulphide mineralisation was discovered. Downhole Electromagnetic (DHEM) survey results have revealed multiple conductive plates, which are critical indicators of mineralisation. Southern Cross Geoscience (SCG), a specialist in geophysical modelling, has identified a total of 17 plates, with peak conductivity reaching up to 29,000 siemens, indicating strong potential for further high-grade findings. These plates vary in length, thickness, and depth, with some as deep as 170 metres from the surface.
A closer look at hole OVD021 has revealed nine plates in close proximity to the massive sulphide intersection, supporting the theory of a continuous high-grade zone. This finding has prompted Asian Battery Metals to prioritise further exploration in the area. Managing director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren expressed optimism about the DHEM results, highlighting the potential for extensive mineralisation across the Oval gabbroic intrusion.
The phase 2 program includes plans for up to eight new drill holes, with a cumulative depth target of 1,200 metres. The main objectives are to extend the mineralised zone, define its orientation, and target deeper sections likely to yield high-grade resources. Drilling will also test the high-conductivity DHEM plates across both the Oval and North Oval areas. This program is expected to progress through November, with assay results anticipated by year-end.
The recent DHEM campaign surveyed 2,185 metres using five loop configurations across various high-priority drill holes, including OVD002, OVD003, OVD007, OVD013, OVD017, OVD018, OVD021, SC01, and SC03. Analysis by SCG has identified two high-conductivity plates, OVD021_A and OVD021_B, within OVD021, suggesting interconnected sulphides in multiple directions.
Across the broader Oval region, DHEM analysis indicates significant high-conductivity plates, such as those 15 metres northwest of OVD018, hinting at additional high-grade mineralisation. In North Oval, similar findings around OVD003, OVD013, and OVD009 suggest potential extensions to existing zones. SCG has categorised these plates into priority levels, with priority 1 plates offering the highest confidence for further drill targeting.
