Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work we go
THE DRILL SERGEANT: Each week any number of junior exploration plays set out to drill their ground. Here’s a small selection of what’s been happening this week.
$125,000 co-funding for drilling program
Impact Minerals (ASX: IPT) is to receive $125,000 under the New South Wales State Government’s Co-operative Drilling Funding Program.
The cash will help fund upcoming drilling at the company’s Broken Hill nickel-copper-PGE Joint Venture project.
“The award of this significant grant by the New South Wales Government further emphasises the highly-prospective nature of the Broken Hill project,” Impact Minerals managing director Dr Mike Jones said.
“The funds will go towards our drill program at the Red Hill prospect where we have defined four priority drill targets with very significant and high-grade rock chip and soil sampling results.
“In today’s climate where every exploration dollar counts, the award of these funds is a credit to our COO, Leo Horn, who successfully secured this funding.”
Impact is earning an 80 per cent interest in the nickel-copper-PGE rights to the project from Golden Cross Resources.
Exploration kicks off on two fronts
Aruma Resources (ASX: AAJ) has commenced exploration activity at itsBulloo Downs copper project in the Ashburton Region of Western Australia and at the Glandore gold project, near Kalgoorlie.
The company has started geological surveying using HyMap technology at Bulloo Downs, as well as a program of aircore drilling at Glandore.
The drilling program is expected to last about eight days, and the samples will be assayed in Kalgoorlie, with the results expected in October.
Drilling commences at Kitongo gold project
Rift Valley Resources (ASX: RVY) has commenced drilling at the Kitongo gold project in Tanzania.
The company said exploration at the project has been prevented for a number of years due to the presence of illegal artisanal miners.
A 10 hole RC program commenced with drilling focused on testing immediate extensions to the Main Zone mineralisation.
This is the first opportunity for drilling at the Main Zone deposit since 2001 and is the first stage in assessing the full potential of the project.
“We are pleased to finally have the opportunity to test the high-grade gold targets at Kitongo,” Rift Valley Resources managing director Geoff Gilmour said.
“We expect that this will be the start of a substantial exploration program at the project.”
Karly project, commencement of drilling
Reward Minerals (ASX: RWD) has received relevant approvals for a planned drilling programm to be conducted at the Karly project, located within the Waukarlycarly Embayment, Western Australia.
Heritage surveys have been completed over the southern half of the Karly tenement area and some 40 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes are planned for completion over the next three months.
The program will target sulfate of potash (SOP) brine resources.
The drilling program has been formulated to target areas of high conductivity as identified by Geoscience Australia in its 2010/12 Record – Aerial Electromagnetic Survey (AEM) of the Paterson Province, WA.
Drilling to commence on nickel-sulphide targets
Buxton Resources (ASX: BUX) has confirmed confirm planning, permitting and engagement of a drill contractor is now complete for a RC drill program to be carried out at the company’s 100 per cent-owned Zanthus nickel-copper project, located 60km along strike from Sirius Resources’ Nova-Bollinger discovery in the Fraser Range Nickel province, Western Australia.
Drill pad clearing and track access construction is underway and drilling is expected to begin in early October 2014.
The program will consist of approx. 1,500m of RC drilling primarily targeting a newly defined MLTEM anomaly at Oaktree North.
At least four additional untested targets previously generated will also be drilled.