Asian Battery Metals has reported significant exploration progress at its Oval Cu-Ni-PGE project in Mongolia, including new high-grade drill intercepts and refined geophysical models that expand the known mineralised strike to 880 metres.
- 40 drillholes completed totaling 7,434 metres in 2025 program
- 60% extension of mineralisation strike length to 880 metres
- High-grade copper and nickel intercepts confirmed in drillholes OVD049 and OVD051
- Identification of additional intrusive bodies including new MS4 anomaly
- Phase 4 drilling planned for Q1 2026 alongside due diligence on Maikhan Uul Cu-Au project
Exploration Momentum Builds at Oval
Asian Battery Metals PLC (ASX, AZ9) has delivered a compelling update on its Oval copper-nickel-platinum group elements (Cu-Ni-PGE) project in Mongolia, revealing substantial progress from its 2025 exploration campaign. The company completed 40 diamond drillholes totaling 7,434 metres, alongside detailed geophysical surveys, which have collectively refined the geological understanding and expanded the known mineralised footprint.
Notably, the strike length of mineralisation at Oval has been extended by 60%, now reaching 880 metres. This extension was confirmed by drillhole OVD049, which intersected 23.1 metres of mineralised mafic-ultramafic intrusion, including a significant interval grading 0.39% copper and 0.41% nickel. Similarly, drillhole OVD051 at North Oval returned 9.3 metres at 1.06% copper and 0.48% nickel, highlighting the presence of high-grade sulphide mineralisation.
Refined Geophysical Models Reveal New Targets
Geophysical work has been a cornerstone of the 2025 program, with reprocessing of fixed-loop electromagnetic (FLEM) data and ground magnetic surveys providing fresh insights. The reinterpretation of these datasets has delineated an additional large geophysical anomaly, designated MS4, interpreted as a potential intrusive body near the previously known MS1 prospect. This suggests the presence of a broader cluster of fertile mafic intrusions, which could host further mineralisation.
The company’s technical partners, including Terra Resources and Southern Geoscience Consultants, have contributed to modelling conductive plates and magnetic inversion data that correlate well with drilling results. These models are guiding the next phase of exploration, targeting deeper and lateral extensions of mineralisation.
Strategic Moves and Future Plans
Alongside advancing the Oval project, Asian Battery Metals is progressing due diligence on the Maikhan Uul copper-gold project, with plans to settle the acquisition subject to satisfactory outcomes. The company is also preparing for Phase 4 drilling at Oval, expected to commence in the first quarter of 2026, aiming to further delineate and potentially define a resource.
Managing Director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren emphasised the significance of the results, stating that the 2025 program not only extended mineralisation but also identified pathways for future growth. The confirmation of additional intrusive clusters enhances the prospectivity of the region and underpins the company’s strategy to discover and develop critical mineral resources for Asia’s energy transition.
Technical Rigor and Quality Assurance
The exploration results are supported by rigorous sampling, assaying, and quality control protocols. Diamond drilling employed HQ-size core with detailed geological logging and sampling intervals tailored to capture mineralisation variability. Assays were conducted by ALS Laboratories using four-acid digestion and fire assay methods for precious metals, ensuring high confidence in the data. The company also implemented comprehensive QA/QC measures including certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicates.
While true widths of mineralised intercepts remain to be established, the downhole lengths reported provide a robust basis for ongoing exploration targeting. The combination of geophysical modelling and drilling results is positioning Asian Battery Metals to unlock further value from the Oval project.
Bottom Line?
With mineralisation extended and new targets emerging, Asian Battery Metals is poised for a pivotal 2026 exploration season that could reshape its resource potential.
Questions in the middle?
- What will Phase 4 drilling reveal about the depth and continuity of mineralisation at Oval?
- How will the due diligence outcomes impact the potential acquisition and development of Maikhan Uul?
- Can the newly identified MS4 intrusive body host economically viable mineralisation?