Massive Sulphide Discovery Extends Asian Battery Metals' Copper-Nickel Zone at Oval
Asian Battery Metals (ASX: AZ9) has announced significant new massive sulphide intercepts that substantially extend the mineralisation footprint at its Oval Copper-Nickel discovery in Mongolia.
Key Drilling Results Confirm Substantial Mineralisation Zone
The company's Phase 3 drilling programme has delivered multiple new massive sulphide intercepts that demonstrate the growing scale of the Asian Battery Metals copper-nickel discovery:
- Drill hole OVD036 intercepted 2.0 metres of massive sulphide from 113.3m depth, extending mineralisation 130 metres down-dip from previous intercepts at North Oval
- OVD040 intercepted 6.9 metres of massive sulphide from 95.5m depth, located 22 metres north of previous intercepts, suggesting strong continuity
- OVD038 and OVD039 confirmed shallow gabbroic rock potentially linking the North Oval and Oval zones, indicating a potential 800-metre long continuous mineralised system
These results significantly enhance the company's understanding of the mineralisation geometry and confirm the substantial scale potential of the Oval discovery.
"The latest drill results suggest a potential of 800 m long zone of shallow mineralisation from North Oval through to Oval, with more massive sulphides intercepted in OVD036 and OVD040. As our exploration continues, we have expanded our mineralisation footprint, identified a depth extension, and added new targets at the project," said Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren, Managing Director of Asian Battery Metals.
Advanced Exploration Technologies Guiding Discovery
Asian Battery Metals is employing sophisticated exploration techniques to guide its drilling programme:
- Advanced Samson EM surveys are being mobilised from Australia this month to refine targets and explore new anomalies
- Provus EM modelling software from Canadian company Novaminex has identified two ribbon-like conductors, with Ribbon-1 already validated by the massive sulphide in OVD040
- Multiple untested electromagnetic plates with conductivity up to 19,914 Siemens remain to be drilled
The company has strategically paused drilling to await results from the upcoming Samson EM survey, keeping the drill rig on site without additional costs to ensure rapid follow-up on new targets.
Understanding Electromagnetic Conductivity in Mineral Exploration
Electromagnetic (EM) surveys represent a crucial exploration technique in the search for massive sulphide deposits. These surveys measure the electrical conductivity of subsurface materials, with higher conductivity values typically indicating the presence of conductive minerals such as sulphides.
How EM Surveys Work
EM surveys involve generating electromagnetic fields and measuring how these fields interact with subsurface materials. The conductivity of a target is measured in Siemens, which indicates how well it conducts electricity. In mineral exploration:
- Low conductivity values (tens to hundreds of Siemens): Often associated with disseminated mineralisation or weakly conductive materials
- Moderate conductivity (hundreds to low thousands of Siemens): May indicate semi-massive sulphides or zones of increased mineralisation
- High conductivity (several thousand Siemens or more): Typically suggests massive or connected sulphide bodies with potential economic significance
Significance of Conductivity Values at Oval
The conductivity values reported at the Oval discovery are exceptionally high:
| Electromagnetic Plate | Conductivity (Siemens) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| OVD033_A | 19,914 | Partially tested |
| OVD025_L6_B | 13,483 | Untested |
| OVD035_E | 13,174 | Untested |
| OVD036_D | 12,110 | Partially tested |
| OVD021_Late_F | 12,609 | Untested |
| OVD034_D | 9,000 | Untested |
These extremely high conductivity values (up to 19,914 Siemens) are particularly significant as they typically indicate the presence of connected massive sulphides with potential economic mineralisation. For context, many exploration targets of interest have conductivity values in the hundreds to low thousands of Siemens.
The company's use of both conventional EM surveys and advanced modelling software like Provus enhances their ability to target and interpret these conductive bodies, potentially leading to more efficient drilling and discovery.
Cost-Effective Exploration Strategy
A key advantage for Asian Battery Metals is the low drilling costs in Mongolia, which enables the company to maintain a strong balance sheet while advancing exploration. This cost advantage allows for:
- More metres drilled per dollar spent
- Greater flexibility in testing multiple targets
- Ability to maintain a robust exploration programme without frequent capital raising
The company has strategically paused drilling to await results from the upcoming Samson EM survey, keeping the drill rig on site without additional costs to ensure rapid follow-up on new targets.
Upcoming Catalysts for Investors
Several near-term catalysts could drive Asian Battery Metals' exploration success:
- First assay results from Phase 3 drilling expected in June 2025
- Results from advanced Samson EM survey to identify new high-priority targets
- Drilling to resume after EM survey results are integrated into targeting models
- Results from regional scout drilling to be announced shortly
Technical Details of Recent Drilling
The Phase 3 drilling programme has provided valuable insights into the structure and orientation of the mineralisation at Oval:
OVD036
Drilled to intercept the DHEM plate OVD035-B (11,093 Siemens), this hole successfully intercepted:
- 2.0 metres of massive sulphide from 113.3m down-hole
- The mineralisation appears similar to that intercepted at North Oval (pyrrhotite, pentlandite-rich, with less chalcopyrite)
- Located 129.6m southeast from previous massive sulphide mineralisation at North Oval
OVD038 and OVD039
These holes were designed to establish whether a gabbroic intrusion connects North Oval to Oval:
- Both holes confirmed the presence of shallow gabbroic rock
- This suggests a potential connection between the North Oval and Oval zones
- The results indicate a possible 800-metre long continuous mineralised system
OVD040
Drilled to test the continuation of massive sulphide intercepts from previous holes and validate multiple DHEM plate interpretations:
- Intercepted 6.9 metres of massive sulphide from 95.5m depth
- Located 22 metres north of previous massive sulphide interception
- Successfully validated the "Ribbon-1" conductor model generated by Provus EM modelling software
Why Investors Should Follow Asian Battery Metals
Asian Battery Metals presents a compelling investment case based on:
- Expanding Discovery Footprint: Drill results consistently expand the known mineralisation, with multiple massive sulphide intercepts
- Technical Excellence: Sophisticated exploration techniques are effectively guiding the drilling programme
- Critical Metals Focus: The copper-nickel project contains metals essential for the energy transition in Asia
- Cost-Effective Exploration: Low-cost drilling in Mongolia allows more metres for each dollar spent
- Multiple Catalysts: Near-term assay results and geophysical survey data will provide continuous news flow
The combination of expanding mineralisation footprint, sophisticated exploration techniques, and efficient capital management positions Asian Battery Metals as a potentially significant player in the battery metals space, particularly given the strategic importance of copper and nickel in the energy transition.
The Oval discovery exhibits characteristics of a substantial magmatic sulphide Ni-Cu-PGM mineralisation system hosted in a Permian mafic-ultramafic intrusion, similar to numerous known examples in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. With each phase of drilling, the company continues to build evidence of a potentially significant mineral system that warrants continued exploration.
Want to Capitalise on This Exciting Copper-Nickel Discovery?
Asian Battery Metals' impressive massive sulphide intercepts at the Oval discovery represent a compelling opportunity in the battery metals sector. With expanding mineralisation zones, sophisticated EM survey techniques, and an efficient exploration strategy in Mongolia, the company is strategically positioned to deliver significant value. To learn more about this emerging copper-nickel opportunity and stay updated on upcoming catalysts including June assay results, visit www.asianbatterymetals.com today.
