Azzuro Resources' final Red Hill Phase 1 assays return up to 11.95% copper

Azzuro Resources PLC (ASX: AZ9) reported on 1 September 2026 the final (Batch 4) assay results from its 2026 Phase 1 drilling program at the 100%-owned Red Hill (formerly Maikhan Uul) copper-gold volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) project in southwestern Mongolia, covering drillholes MU2609, MU2610, MU2610A and MU2611. The results predate, and are separate from, the company's 1 October 2026 announcement of a new copper sulphide zone in hole MU2613A.

MU2610A, collared about 85 metres south of the 2025 hole MU2501 to test the up-dip continuity of the massive sulphide, returned 5.0 metres at 4.92% copper, 0.94 g/t gold, 5.05 g/t silver and 0.41% zinc from 142.5 metres, including 2.0 metres at 11.95% copper, 1.99 g/t gold and 11.80 g/t silver from 143.85 metres. The hole also cut a separate, shallower interval of 1.9 metres at 6.80 g/t gold and 67.30 g/t silver from 49.9 metres. Lower-grade copper intercepts between the two zones indicate a broad zoned halo around the high-grade core, which the company said is consistent with its VMS model.

MU2609, drilled about 85 metres west of MU2604, confirmed the shallow gold corridor with 10.8 metres at 0.45 g/t gold and 10.72 g/t silver from 7.0 metres, and intersected previously unknown copper mineralisation north of the gold zone, including 3.0 metres at 2.40% copper from 44.0 metres. MU2610 and MU2610A opened a new gold area south of the known corridor. MU2611, in the southwest, returned no significant gold or copper, and MU2610 was abandoned at 47.4 metres after poor core recovery in a fault zone.

With all Phase 1 assays now complete, Azzuro said high-grade mineralisation was found in 8 of the 14 holes it drilled, over approximately 550 metres of strike and to about 150 metres below surface, with the system open to the east, west and down-dip. The company's JORC Exploration Target for Red Hill is 15–30 million tonnes at 0.71–0.9% copper and 0.26–0.4 g/t gold; it cautions that the target is conceptual and that there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource.

Phase 2 drilling has begun with an initial focus on the shallow gold zone, DHEM surveying of the 2026 diamond holes is underway, and preliminary metallurgical flotation testing has commenced on copper-gold sulphide samples. Managing Director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren said: "We have completed this final batch of assays on a high note. Not only have we confirmed mineralisation in the copper-rich massive sulphide and shallow gold zones, we have also identified additional mineralised areas for copper exploration to the north of previously identified mineralisation and a new area with gold."

Source: Azzuro Resources PLC ASX announcement (1 September 2026), via Market Index, Investing News Network (INN) and MiningHub.