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.
Gold drilling underway at Spargoville
Tychean Resources (ASX: TYK) has kicked off a program of approximately 6000 metres of Air Core drilling at the company’s 100 per cent-owned Spargoville gold project in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.
The program, comprising close spaced Air Core drilling, is planned to evaluate high-priority targets that have recently returned anomalous results including: Core Farm; Fugitive; Déjà vu and Golden Orb South prospects.
The program is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete with all results expected to be available by the end of March 2014.
Copper intersected in Chile
Cobre Montana (ASX: CXB) has encountered visible indications of copper mineralisation in core and shallow excavations from its maiden exploration program at the company’s Mantos Grandes project, central Chile.
Cobre can earn a 65 per cent interest in the project.
The diamond core drilling commenced on 20 January 2014 and is part of a planned 800 metre program to evaluate skarn hosted copper and gold mineralisation adjacent to underground workings at the Mantos Grandes and La Demonia prospects.
As of 9 February 2014 some 308m of drilling had been completed.
Drillable Ungani-style targets identified from recent seismic survey
Rey Resources (ASX:REY) has been told by Buru Energy Limited, its JV partner and operator of the Fitzroy Blocks, initial interpretation of 2D seismic data acquired over the Ungani Trend in the Canning Basin, Western Australia, in EP457.
A geophysical survey was completed during November 2013, with a total of 234 line kilometres acquired over EP457.
Processing of seismic data occurred in January 2014.
EP457 together with EP458 are referred to as the Fitzroy Blocks.
Rey holds a 25 per cent interest (including a 10 per cent free carry to production) in a joint venture on the Fitzroy Blocks along with Buru (37.5 per cent and operator) and Diamond Resources (Fitzroy) (37.5 per cent), which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation.
Initial results have provided several targets analogous to the Ungani discoveries made by Buru/MC approximately 10-15 kilometres to the NW of EP457.
At least one of these targets will be proposed to the joint venture for drilling later in 2014.
Further seismic work will be proposed for other prospects and leads on the Ungani trend in EP457 and EP458 during 2014.
Mindax kicks off next phase of Meekatharra drilling
Mindax Limited (ASX: MDX) has commenced its next phase of drilling at the Meekatharra North gold project.
Yilgarn and Pilbara based drilling contractor, Ausdrill Northwest, has been contracted to complete a small deep drilling program of approximately 1,600 metres.
It is anticipated the work will be finished within two weeks, depending on weather conditions.
The work involves deep RC drilling (up to 300 metres below surface) targeting down dip and down plunge extensions of previously reported high-grade drill intersections.
The drilling is aiming to further verify the down plunge continuity of the gold mineralisation.
The Joint Venture partners for this project are funding the work.
The Meekatharra North gold project is located along strike from the Paddy’s Flat gold field (where 2.5 million ounces have been produced) and immediately south from Doray Minerals’ (ASX: DRM) Andy Well gold mine.
“We are pleased to begin this new drill campaign at Meekatharra North with the full support of our JV partners,” Mindax Limited managing director and CEO Dr Steve Ward said.
“The area is highly prospective and this new work will focus on the very encouraging high grade intersections found in the initial 2013 drilling program.
“We look forward to receiving the new results.”