Azzuro Resources (ASX:AZ9) intersects new copper sulphide zone at Red Hill
Azzuro Resources has intersected a new copper sulphide zone during shallow gold drilling at its 100% owned Red Hill project in southwestern Mongolia, approximately 70 to 80m north of previously intersected massive and semi massive sulphide mineralisation.
The discovery accompanies electromagnetic modelling that has identified targets for deeper drilling, with laboratory assays from the current programme pending.
Highlights
MU2613A intersected 7.0m of semi massive to massive sulphide mineralisation from 72.3m downhole, including 0.85m of massive sulphide from 75.0m.
Downhole electromagnetic modelling defined 3 conductive plates, with Zone B identified as a priority drilling target.
Completed shallow gold holes total 442.6m, within an approximately 1,200m planned programme.
Assays are expected in approximately 4 to 5 weeks, with metallurgical testwork expected to be completed early in Q4 2026.
Red Hill, formerly Maikhan Uul, is a copper and gold volcanogenic massive sulphide project where Azzuro’s drilling during 2025 and 2026 has defined massive sulphide mineralisation over approximately 550m of strike.
The Phase 2 programme targets shallow oxide gold north of the main sulphide mineralisation before proceeding to deeper copper drilling using electromagnetic and gravity targets.
MU2613A was drilled to test the extension at depth of shallow gold mineralisation previously identified in MU2606, with the newly intersected copper sulphides occurring beneath the gold mineralisation within the North Zone.
Visible copper minerals comprise bornite and chalcopyrite, although no laboratory assay results from the current drilling programme are reported in the announcement.
The company cautions that visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a substitute for laboratory analysis where concentrations or grades are the principal economic interest.
The intersection is reported as a downhole length, with true width yet to be determined, and a south directed hole is planned to intersect the zone at a larger angle.
Azzuro Managing Director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren said,
“The sulphide assemblage is bornite-dominant, resembles our best assayed intercept to date, 13.1m @ 2.58% Cu, 0.96 g/t Au, 22.4 g/t Ag in drillhole MU2601.”
Alongside the drilling, electromagnetic surveying across 8 holes has generated conductive plates at Zone A, Zone B and Zone C, with estimated conductance of approximately 450, 1,000 and 100 Siemens respectively.
Zone B is modelled west of MU2502 at approximately 125m depth, with estimated dimensions of approximately 100m by 32m by 20m.
Drillhole MU2601 previously intersected massive sulphide corresponding to the upper and lower plates modelled at Zone B, supporting the company’s interpretation of the electromagnetic response.
Azzuro considers the untested extensions at depth and laterally to be priority targets, while Zone C corresponds with known sulphide mineralisation and remains open at depth.
According to the announcement, Zone C also coincides with the independently modelled gravity response, which the company considers supporting evidence for continuation of sulphide mineralisation to depth.
A second rig capable of deeper drilling is mobilising to test the copper targets.
The disclosed Q4 2026 work includes drilling for depth and lateral extensions and metallurgical testing of Red Hill sulphide mineralisation.
Follow up drilling will examine the continuity and geometry of the newly identified zone, while completion of a ground 3D IP survey and its interpretation at the Oval copper and nickel project is scheduled for October 2026.