THE DRILL SERGEANT: Companies getting busy on the drill bit this week include Helix Resources, Cauldron Energy, Alligator Energy, and Minotaur Exploration.
Drilling Testing Extension of Mingary Gold Unit
Minotaur Exploration (ASX: MEP) has begun drilling to test the extent of gold mineralisation along strike from historic workings of the Mingary Mine, located in the northern part of the Minotaur/Sumitomo Bonython Hill EL 4745, approximately 75km southwest of Broken Hill.
2014 RC drilling revealed sulphide-rich copper-gold-silver mineralisation up to 600 metres north of the old workings.
Rock chip samples of up to 2.4 grams per tonne gold 1.5 kilometres north of Mingary confirmed continuation of the Mingary feature in vicinity of 2014 RC drilling.
Interpretation of magnetics suggest the system continues for 12km.
The upcoming drilling will test the continuity of the gold bearing unit for up to 12km north.
Petrology of 2014 RC chips and copper-gold-silver metal association of the Mingary horizon indicate this could potentially be a new style of Broken Hill type (BHT) mineralisation.
Drilling for Uranium at Beatrice
Alligator Energy (ASX: AGE) has started drilling on the Beatrice project in the Northern Territory seeking high-grade uranium mineralisation.
A 3,500 metre shallow drilling program is planned to test three priority targets (BT-4, Beatrice prospect and BT-1) defined by recent geophysical and geochemical surveys.
The program is expected to be completed by the end of October.
Alligator’s 2015 drilling campaign began in September at the BT-4 prospect.
Drilling is targeting a strong, north-south trending SAM conductor extending over 1,000 metres.
The BT-4 anomaly is located two kilometres north of the Beatrice prospect along strike from a SAM (Sub Audio Magnetics) conductor, magnetic and uranium mineralisation and soil anomalism that defines the Beatrice prospect drill target.
The target is concealed by sands which render traditional spectrometer and geochemical sampling, as well as radiogenic isotope sampling, ineffective.
Light rig drilling is planned to collect weathered bedrock samples from beneath the young alluvial material for radiometric/geochemical analysis.
Definition of anomalous uranium and strong alteration by first pass drilling will be considered a highly positive result justifying deeper infill drilling.
Drilling at Bennet Well
Cauldron Energy (ASX: CXU) has completed a comprehensive geological review of the mineralisation setting of its wholly-owned Bennet Well uranium deposit.
The review highlighted areas proximal to the deposit with potential to further extend the Mineral Resource.
Cauldron is about to commence a mud rotary drilling program with downhole geophysical logging comprising 40 holes for a total of 4,000m which is designed to test the high priority targets and also further improve the metallurgical understanding of the deposit.
The drilling is being supported by a Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum award grant of up to $150,000 for drill testing greenfield type targets.
Joshua Drilling Underway
Helix Resources (ASX: HLX) has commenced a Stage 1 – US$1.2 million diamond drilling program at the company’s Joshua copper-gold porphyry project in Region IV – Chile.
The drill program will target untested potassic portions of the system and zones where the Helix considers potential exists for copper enrichment.
The first two holes are planned to be drilled to a depth of 500 metres and are expected to pass into the potassic zone of the Joshua porphyry system.
Subsequent holes will then expand out from the potassic core of the system to test strike, grade continuity and expand the potential volume of the mineralisation at Joshua.
This drilling will test zones where petrological studies by Helix identified enrichment in the form of Chalcocite overprinting Chalcopyrite.
