Asian Battery Metals PLC (ASX:AZ9) has restarted its Phase 3 drilling program at the Oval Copper-Nickel (Cu-Ni) Project in the Yambat tenement, Gobi Altai province, Mongolia. The campaign will focus on testing high-priority conductivity plates identified in recent ground-based SAMSON electromagnetic (EM) surveys.
Drilling will concentrate on the Oval, North Oval, South, and MS1 zones, aiming to expand the project’s mineralised footprint and improve structural understanding of the deposit.
Priority of FLEM Conductive Plates in North Oval and Oval Zones (white dashed outlines) on Magnetic Vertical Derivative Background.
“We are excited to recommence the drilling program at our Oval Cu-Ni project. As further ground EM measurement in the field continues, it is important for us to test the initial plates of conductivity identified from the fixed loop electromagnetic survey. This program aims to confirm the SAMSON EM surveys as an effective tool to potentially significantly expand the Oval Cu-Ni footprint,” AZ9 managing director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren said.
SAMSON survey informs Phase 3 target areas
The restart follows a brief pause to facilitate the SAMSON EM survey, which identified several high-priority conductive plates across multiple target areas. 
The renewed drilling campaign will test these conductive responses, which are interpreted as potential indicators of massive sulphide mineralisation. 
These targets are derived from fixed-loop EM survey data and are seen as key to understanding the scale and continuity of mineralised zones at Oval. The use of SAMSON technology is part of Asian Battery Metals' broader strategy to apply advanced geophysics in its exploration workflow across Mongolia.
Looking forward
Asian Battery Metals is planning to maintain a steady pace of exploration through August and September 2025. 
The current program includes additional drilling and downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) work. 
Further fixed-loop EM surveys using varied configurations are scheduled to run until mid-August, with interpretation results to follow. 
Additionally, the company expects to receive initial metallurgical test results during August, which will inform future development options for the Oval project. 
These steps are intended to de-risk the asset and provide key data on ore processing characteristics, especially for nickel and copper recovery.
About AZ9
Asian Battery Metals PLC holds 100% ownership of several Mongolian projects including:
Yambat (Cu-Ni-PGE at Oval, Cu-Au at Copper Ridge),
Khukh Tag Graphite, and
Tsagaan Ders Lithium.
The Oval Cu-Ni-PGE Discovery is the flagship, with recent drilling confirming high-grade mineralisation and extensions of massive sulphide zones. The company is actively pursuing regional exploration while continuing to define the scale of its core discoveries.

Published Date:2025-08-06