Azimut Exploration drills 8.42% Ni, 7.25 g/t PGE over 1.9 metres at Kukamas Project, Quebec
Azimut Exploration Inc. [TSXV: AZM; OTCQX: AZMTF] released the results of the maiden 2,000-metre diamond drilling program on the Kukamas property in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of northern Quebec. The property is subject to an option agreement with KGHM International Ltd., with Azimut as the operator.
The drilling program consisted of nine holes (KUK24-001 to KUK24-009) for a total of 1,998.5 metres to complete a first assessment of the Perseus and Halley magmatic nickel sulphide surface discoveries and other strong conductors defined by airborne and ground electromagnetic (EM) geophysical surveys.
This phase confirms the Perseus zone as a significant high-grade nickel and platinum group element (PGE) discovery, likely associated with komatiitic volcanics. A second mineralized horizon, also hosted in komatiites, has been intersected approximately 80 metres deeper (along hole) from the Perseus horizon. Both zones remain open in all directions. The features of the mineralization (high-grade nickel (Ni), high nickel/copper (Ni/Cu) ratio, high palladium/platinum (Pd/Pt) ratio) and the lithological context highlight a fertile system, with similarities to Archean Kambalda-type komatiitic nickel deposits, exemplified by the Kambalda district in Western Australia.
These initial results underscore the potential of Kukamas, which also hosts several underexplored, kilometre-scale, high-quality nickel targets. A work plan for 2025 is currently being developed to further advance the Perseus discovery and test surrounding targets.
Highlights – Hole KUK24-001, Perseus zone: 1.64% Ni, 0.11% Cu and 1.12 g/t PGE over 8.5 metresd (from 16.5 m to 25.0 m), including 3.55% Ni, 0.19% Cu and 2.19 g/t PGE over 2.5 m (from 22.5 m to 25.0 m).
New sulphide horizon: 0.90% Ni and 0.32 g/t PGE over 9.05 metres (from 126.65 m to 135.70 m).
Hole KUK24-002, Perseus zone: 8.42% Ni, 0.55% Cu and 7.25 g/t PGE over 1.9 metres (from 27.0 m to 28.9 m).
Hole KUK24-003, Perseus zone: 0.81% Ni and 0.52 g/t PGE over 24.2 metres (from 30.0 m to 54.2 m), including 1.63% Ni, 0.14% Cu and 1.61 g/t PGE over 1.25 metres (from 42.5 m to 43.75 m) and 3.46 per cent Ni, 0.21 per cent Cu and 2.44 g/t PGE over 0.75 metres (from 52.4 m to 53.15 m).
Hole KUK24-007, Perseus zone: 6.06% Ni, 0.38% Cu and 3.34 g/t PGE over 2.6 metres (from 32.4 m to 35.0 m), including 19.6% Ni, 0.81% Cu and 9.43 g/t PGE over 0.75 metres (from 33.4 m to 34.15 m). New sulphide horizon: 3.18% Ni, 0.15% Cu and 1.17 g/t PGE over 1.7 metres (from 109.3 m to 111.0 m).
Perseus target area: The November-December 2024, drilling program followed up on the surface discovery of Perseus, which returned high-grade nickel-PGE from channel and grab samples, including 2.98% Ni, 0.32% Cu and 2.25 g/t PGE over 8.0 metres, including 3.74% Ni, 0.41% Cu and 2.82 g/t PGE over 6.0 m; 1.10% Ni, 0.15% Cu and 1.02 g/t PGE over 9.0 m, including 1.42% Ni, 0.19% Cu and 1.36 g/t PGE over 6.0 m; up to 9.35% Ni, 3.04% Cu and 3.78 g/t Pt and 8.99 g/t Pd from different sawed rock samples from outcrops.
Five holes (KUK24-001, KUK24-002, KUK24-003, KUK24-004 and KUK24-007) tested the Perseus zone at shallow depths below the discovery outcrop. Holes KUK24-001 and KUK24-004 were drilled on the same section, and holes KUK24-002, KUK24-003 and KUK24-007 were drilled on a section 35 metres to the north. Hole KUK24-003 returned a wide mineralized section approximately 25 metres thick along the hole, interpreted as a low angle intercept relative to the zone. The mineralization in KUK24-004 is truncated by a highly schistose talc-rich zone interpreted as a fault. Perseus appears as a roughly north-trending zone, steeply dipping to the west.
Holes KUK24-001, KUK24-002 and KUK24-007 were deepened to the east to investigate the ultramafic sequence for additional sulphide mineralized horizons and to test a conductive anomaly modelled from a ground DeepEM survey conducted in the fall over the Perseus zone. Two notable nickel-PGE mineralized intervals were intersected in komatiite. KUK24-001: 0.90% Ni and 0.33 g/t PGE over 9.05 metres, including 1.04% Ni, 0.30% Cu and 0.40 g/t PGE over 6.05 metres (from 126.65 m to 132.70 m), in a zone of disseminated pyrrhotite-pentlandite.
KUK24-007: 2.04% Ni and 1.02 g/t PGE over 1.0 metre (from 100.0 m to 101.0 m), in an eight-metre section of disseminated and stringer pyrrhotite-(pentlandite), followed by 3.18% Ni, 0.15% Cu and 1.17 g/t PGE over 1.7 metres (from 109.3 m to 111.0 m), in a section of net-textured and massive pyrrhotite-pentlandite.
At Perseus, significant gold and tellurium grades can occur alongside high-grade Ni and PGE intercepts.
Holes KUK24-005 and KUK24-006, drilled respectively 600 metres east-southeast and 800 metres north of the Perseus zone, tested other ground EM (electromagnetic) conductors. These conductors were found to be associated with sulphide-rich sedimentary units interlayered with basalt. Hole KUK24-005 cut a thick komatiite section from 123.9 metres to the end of the hole at 228.90 metres (downhole thickness of 105.0 m).
Ultramafic lithologies identified in drill holes at Perseus and in hole KUK24-005, along with mapping data and correlated magnetic highs, suggest a north-northwest-trending ultramafic domain (interlayered with lesser amounts of basalt and sedimentary rock) at least 500 metres wide in the Perseus target area.
Halley showing: The Halley showing, 3.8 km south of Perseus, returned up to 1.36% Ni, 0.12% Cu and 0.89 g/t PGE in grab samples.
Holes KUK24-008 and KUK24-009 investigated a strong one-km-long airborne EM conductor coincident with the Halley Ni-PGE showing. Both holes cut through a sequence of altered (quartz-sericite-garnet) felsic to intermediate volcaniclastic rocks followed by a previously unrecognized ultramafic unit (from 132.0 m to the end of the hole at 201.0 m in KUK24-008 and from 134.35 m to the end of the hole at 201.0 m in KUK24-009). The EM conductor remains unexplained.
The Kukamas property covers a 41-km cumulative strike length and comprises 665 mining claims in two claim blocks for a total surface area of 337.8 km2. This includes 128 claims recently added to the property following the discovery of the Perseus zone. These new claims cover favourable geology, including ultramafic units prospective for nickel. The project benefits from major infrastructure, including high-voltage power lines, and its proximity to the Trans-Taiga Road, an all-weather regional highway 4 km to the north, and the La Grande-3 airstrip near the La Grande-3 hydroelectric generating station. The closest town is Radisson, 80 km to the west-northwest.