Asian Battery Metals PLC (ASX:AZ9) drilling extends mineralised footprint at Oval Cu-Ni-PGE Project

Asian Battery Metals PLC has reported a new set of assay results from its Phase 3 drilling program at the Oval copper-nickel-PGE project in Mongolia, confirming further extensions to the mineralised zone.

The results support the interpretation that Oval hosts a continued and coherent sulphide system, with mineralisation remaining open both along strike and at depth.

The findings build upon previous intersections and are accompanied by downhole and surface geophysical data that are refining drilling targets across the intrusion.

Highlights

• Assays from multiple drillholes confirm further extensions of copper and nickel sulphide mineralisation at Oval.

• OVD042 intersected broad disseminated and semi-massive sulphide zones, including:

  • 68.3 metres at 0.22% Cu, 0.24% Ni, 0.06 g/t E3 from 0.6 metres.

  • 9.2 metres at 0.59% Cu, 0.45% Ni, 0.20 g/t E3 from 68.9 metres, with a narrow high-grade massive sulphide interval grading 2.54% Cu and 3.53% Ni.

• OVD043 confirmed shallow mineralisation associated with a gossanous outcrop, including 19.1 metres at 0.66% Cu and 0.65% Ni from near surface.

• OVD046 extended the mineralised zone 29 metres to the southeast, supported by a downhole electromagnetic conductive plate interpreted immediately below the hole.

• Further assay batches from the program are expected shortly, and drilling is planned to continue testing extensions.

Analysis

The Oval project sits within a mafic–ultramafic intrusive setting typical of magmatic sulphide systems in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.

Copper, nickel and platinum group element mineralisation occurs as a mixture of disseminated, semi-massive and locally massive sulphides, often controlled by the internal architecture of the intrusion.

The Phase 3 program has focused on stepping out from earlier intercepts and integrating electromagnetic conductors to guide drilling.

Drillhole OVD042 is central to the geological interpretation, intersecting extensive sulphide mineralisation from near surface and confirming a north-western extension from earlier drilling.

The presence of both broad, lower-tenor mineralisation and a narrow high-grade sulphide pulse is consistent with dynamic metal transport within an evolving magmatic system.

OVD043 provides important confirmation that the gossan mapped at surface is directly related to underlying sulphide mineralisation, with the shallow nature of this zone likely to assist in structural and lithological modelling as the company works to understand mineralisation controls across the broader intrusion.

The intersection in OVD046 and the associated downhole EM plate present a clear vector for follow-up drilling.

EM conductors previously demonstrated a strong correlation with sulphide zones at Oval, and the identification of a plate directly below the hole suggests potential for higher tenor mineralisation at depth.

Commenting on the results, Asian Battery Metals‘ Managing Director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren said:

“These latest assay results reinforce our confidence that Oval hosts a significant copper-nickel sulphide system. The drilling extends the mineralised footprint beyond previous drilling, with consistent sulphide hits across multiple holes.”

The upcoming assay results, ongoing drilling and metallurgical test work will continue to define the scale and continuity of the mineral system.

While it remains early in the exploration process, the current program is establishing geological coherence and expanding the mineralised envelope.

Focus now shifts to systematic drilling of priority target zones and refining the geological model to underpin future planning.