Azzuro Resources Identifies Nine New Targets From Oval 3D IP Survey
Key Takeaways
- First-stage interpretation of the 3D IP survey at Oval has identified nine new resistivity anomaly trends around the Oval intrusive body, five ranked priority-1 and each supported by all three independent geophysical datasets: magnetics, resistivity, and chargeability.
- Ta-02 through Ta-05 are described as drill-ready geophysical targets at shallow depth, while Ta-01 extends the mineralised system at depth beneath and beyond the last drillhole OVD0522 into previously untested ground.
- The geophysical method has already been validated at Oval: drillhole OVD0492, designed to test a low-resistivity anomaly, intersected 16.8m at 0.39% Cu and 0.41% Ni within a 23-metre mineralised mafic-ultramafic intrusion.
- A new Novaminex DHEM system is being calibrated at Red Hill with Oval downhole electromagnetic surveys planned for September 2026, ahead of a full drilling programme at the Cu-Ni-PGE project.
- Beyond the nine new IP targets, 16 untested conductive FLEM plates from prior surveys across North, Central, and South Oval and the Gossan area remain valid drill targets, pointing to a substantial and growing exploration pipeline.
Nine new targets emerge from Oval 3D IP survey
Azzuro Resources (ASX: AZ9) has completed first-stage interpretation of its 3D induced polarisation survey at the Oval Cu-Ni-PGE project on the Yambat tenement in southwestern Mongolia, identifying nine new anomaly trends around the Oval intrusive body.
Five priority-1 targets (Ta-01 to Ta-05) have been defined, each independently supported by coincident chargeability, low-resistivity, and the new magnetic-constrained model — the same geophysical framework that underpinned the JORC 2012 Exploration Target released on 24 August 2026. The majority of the new anomalies sit in areas and at depths not tested by previous drilling, representing genuinely new exploration ground.
The maiden Oval exploration targets released on 24 August 2026 established the initial geological framework that the 3D IP survey has now substantially expanded, with the new nine-anomaly inventory sitting across and around the same intrusive body flagged in that first estimate.
None of these targets have been drill-tested. They are geophysical targets awaiting confirmation, but their convergence with multiple independent datasets is a meaningful step toward a potential JORC 2012 Resource.
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Exploration highlights at a glance
- Nine new resistivity anomalies identified at Oval Cu-Ni-PGE from first-stage 3D IP survey interpretation
- Five priority-1 targets (Ta-01 to Ta-05): each supported by all three geophysical datasets (magnetics, resistivity, and chargeability)
- Four priority-2 targets (Ta-06 to Ta-09): supported by two of the three datasets
- Ta-02 to Ta-05 occur at shallow depth and are described as drill-ready geophysical targets
- Ta-01 extends the system at depth beneath and beyond last drillhole OVD0522, into ground not adequately tested by previous drilling
- Ta-05 is spatially coincident with a previously identified South FLEM plate
- New Novaminex DHEM system imported into Mongolia; calibration underway at Red Hill, with Oval surveys planned for September 2026
- Diamond drillhole CRS05 completed at Copper Ridge: intersected 4.0m @ 0.30 g/t Au from 277.4m within rhyolite; no significant copper mineralisation intersected
Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren, Managing Director
“These are exactly the kind of results we were hoping for. The 3D IP survey delivered an exciting new set of targets, backed by strong magnetic survey modelling… Importantly, we now see a clear pathway toward a potential JORC2012 Resource across our copper portfolio in southwestern Mongolia, which sets the stage for an initial commercial study – an exciting milestone for the Company and our shareholders.”
What is 3D induced polarisation and why does it matter for copper-nickel exploration?
3D induced polarisation (3D IP) is a geophysical method that measures how the ground responds to electrical current, detecting sulphide mineralisation signatures through chargeability and rock conductivity through resistivity, in three dimensions. When chargeability, resistivity, and magnetics all point to the same location, the convergence of three independent signals materially reduces the chance of a false positive.
The magnetic-constrained modelling completed by Terra Resources Pty Ltd adds further precision by tying the modelled geometry to actual magnetic susceptibility measurements from drill core, rather than relying on unconstrained inversion alone. The method has already been validated at Oval: drillhole OVD0492 was designed specifically to test a low-resistivity anomaly and intersected 23 metres of mineralised mafic-ultramafic intrusion, including 16.8m at 0.39% Cu and 0.41% Ni.
The new Novaminex downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) system, now being calibrated at Red Hill, will be used to detect off-hole conductors and refine drill targets before a full Oval drilling programme is committed.
Red Hill massive sulphide intersections from earlier drilling make it a logical calibration site for the Novaminex DHEM system, providing a known mineralised target against which the instrument’s ability to resolve off-hole conductors can be verified before it is deployed across the Oval Cu-Ni area.
Priority targets defined — from geophysics to the drill pad
Priority-1 targets — five anomalies ready for drilling
Five targets have been ranked priority-1, each supported by all three geophysical datasets. Ta-02 through Ta-05 are shallow and are described as drill-ready. Ta-01 extends the system at depth and along a major fault lineament into ground not previously tested by drilling.
| Target | Priority | Location | Geophysical Support | Key Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ta-01 | 1 | Southeast of the Oval intrusion, beneath and beyond OVD0522 | Magnetics, resistivity, chargeability | Extends mineralised system at depth into untested ground; sits along a major fault lineament at lower RL than previously anticipated |
| Ta-02 | 1 | West of the Oval intrusion | Magnetics, resistivity, chargeability | Shallow, sub-parallel to Oval intrusion; drill-ready geophysical target |
| Ta-03 | 1 | Northwest of the Oval intrusion, Gossan area | Magnetics, resistivity, chargeability | Backed by Terra Resources magnetic-constrained model; new previously untested anomaly extending from Gossan zone toward North Oval |
| Ta-04 | 1 | East of the Oval intrusion | Magnetics, resistivity, chargeability | Shallow, sub-parallel to Oval intrusion; drill-ready geophysical target |
| Ta-05 | 1 | South to southeast of the Oval intrusion | Magnetics, resistivity, chargeability | Spatially coincident with previously identified South FLEM plate; extends south and southeast |
The sub-parallel orientation of Ta-02 to Ta-05 relative to the Oval intrusion is geologically significant. Structures in the same orientation as Oval are interpreted to have been open at the time of mineralised magmatic intrusion, meaning they could host mineralisation similar to or better than Oval itself.
Priority-2 targets and the untested FLEM inventory
Four additional targets (Ta-06 to Ta-09) have been ranked priority-2, each supported by two of the three geophysical datasets. Ta-06 and Ta-07 may represent feeder channels to the Oval intrusion, while Ta-08 and Ta-09 may represent intrusive bodies lying parallel to Oval. Both Ta-08 and Ta-09 occur at shallow depth.
Beyond the nine newly defined IP targets, 16 untested conductive FLEM plates from prior fixed-loop electromagnetic surveys across North Oval, Central Oval, South Oval, and Gossan areas remain valid drill targets. These plates, summarised in Table 4 of the source announcement, span a range of conductivity-thickness values and priorities. Together with the nine newly defined IP targets, this inventory points to a growing pipeline of exploration optionality at Oval that has not yet been tested by a drill bit.
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Copper Ridge update and the road ahead
CRS05 drillhole — what the result tells us
Diamond drillhole CRS05 was drilled to 291m to test the core of the discrete chargeability anomaly at the Copper Ridge Cu-Au prospect. The hole intersected a sequence of metasedimentary and rhyolite layers, returning 4.0m @ 0.30 g/t Au from 277.4m within rhyolite near the bottom of the hole. No significant copper mineralisation was intersected.
The lithology of the drilled core correlated well with the geophysical interpretation. Based on the CRS05 result, the company concludes that mineralisation encountered by CRS01A may be fault-controlled rather than related to the intrusive body. That is a meaningful refinement of the geological model, not a simple miss. The company will integrate CRS05 data with existing 3D IP, magnetic, geochemical, and drilling datasets at Copper Ridge to guide future targeting.
Next steps and upcoming catalysts
- Complete the 3D IP survey at Oval (expected to finish in Q3 2026, per source language)
- Conduct DHEM surveys over the Oval Cu-Ni area in September 2026 using the new Novaminex system
- Refine priority drill targets in the southern and southeastern extent of Oval following DHEM completion
- Plan and initiate the drilling programme at the Oval Cu-Ni project
- Continue integration of the Terra Resources magnetic-constrained model with 3D IP, FLEM, and existing drilling datasets at Oval
- Integrate CRS05 geological data with existing Copper Ridge datasets for future targeting
Managing Director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren described the coming period as a “busy fall season” with drilling at Red Hill and target generation at Oval Cu-Ni running in parallel — a dual-track approach that reflects the breadth of the exploration programme across the Yambat tenement.
Ready to Explore the Full Investment Case Behind Azzuro Resources’ Oval Cu-Ni-PGE Project?
Nine newly defined geophysical targets — five of them drill-ready — represent a significant expansion of the exploration pipeline at Azzuro Resources’ Oval project in southwestern Mongolia, with multiple independent datasets converging to support a pathway toward a potential JORC 2012 Resource. The upcoming DHEM surveys planned for September 2026 and a parallel drilling programme at Red Hill signal a compelling near-term catalyst pipeline for investors watching this Cu-Ni-PGE story develop.
To stay across the latest developments and assess the full scope of Azzuro Resources’ copper portfolio in southwestern Mongolia, explore the Azzuro Resources profile on Discovery Alert for project updates, announcements, and deeper analysis.