Ventnor confirms copper mineralisation
THE DRILL SERGEANT: Australian base metals explorer Ventnor Resources has received results from a second round of drilling at its Thaduna and Green Dragon copper project.
The Thaduna/Green Dragon project is located 40 kilometres east of Sandfire Resources’ Degrussa project in the Doolgunna district 170 kilometres north of Meekatharra in Western Australia.
Throughout June and July, Ventnor completed a 6,020 metre RC drilling program at the Thaduna/Green Dragon project.
This program was designed to follow up results from the company’s initial 2,762m drill program.
The purpose of this drilling program was to extend the known mineralisation along strike and down dip from mineralisation intersected in the previous program.
The second round of drilling has been successful in that aim to the point where Ventor considers it now provides a platform for a Resource definition drilling program.
This is currently being planned and is scheduled to commence in the December quarter.
Only the copper results have been determined and tabulated at this stage.
Gold and silver assays are pending with significant silver intersections, coincident with copper intersections, having been assayed in the first phase of drilling.
A total of 46 new holes were drilled; 26 holes for 3,520 metres at Thaduna and 20 holes for 2,420 metres at Green Dragon.
The second phase of drilling results from Thaduna confirmed continuous copper mineralisation with intersections including:
– 5 metres at 4.21% copeer from 30 metres downhole;
– 3m at 4.47% copper from 121m;
– 5m at 5.10% copper from 100m;
– 4m at 3.85% copper from 122m; and
– 11m at 5.57% copper from 100m.
Additional copper mineralisation was also discovered along strike 300 metres north of the existing Thaduna pit.
Drilling at the Green Dragon prospect also confirmed continuous copper mineralisation with intersections including:
– 2 metres at 9.00% copper from 85 metres downhole;
– 4m at 2.98% copper from 44m;
– 4m at 7.86% copper from 60m;
– 5m at 6.07% copper from 80m;
– 12m at 5.07% copper from 64m; and
– 5m at 5.93% copper from 88m.
Drilling at Green Dragon also confirmed an additional hanging wall copper mineralised zone discovered in the first drill program and identified an additional footwall zone at Green Dragon.
“The success of the drilling program has revealed, in my opinion, the most significant copper results in the Doolgunna District, since Sandfire’s DeGrussa discovery, and justifies Ventnor’s aggressive exploration program,” Ventnor Resources Managing Director Mr Bruce Maluish said.
“The mineralisation is open along strike, down dip and to surface and Ventnor is planning an additional drill program with the intent to determine a maiden JORC compliant Resource for a scoping study to be completed in the March 2012 quarter,” Mr Maluish said.