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.
Infill drilling at Unicorn
Dart Mining (ASX: DTM) has commenced the first phase of infill reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling program at the company’s Unicorn molybdenum, copper, silver deposit in northeast Victoria.
The infill drilling program is designed to facilitate a resource re-estimation by Q2 2015 to facilitate refinement of Pre-Feasibility Study level Mine Design and Scheduling activities.
“This drill program adds an important aspect and marks a significant milestone in the Unicorn development story as Dart Mining pushes beyond the Pre-Feasibility Study stage,” Dart Mining chairman Bruce Paterson said.
“It will enable us to obtain increasingly detailed resource information that will be used on a continuous improvement basis to refine mining, processing and operational parameters towards completion of the final feasibility study.”
Drilling to continue at Ilio Norte
Latin Resources’ (ASX: LRS) earn-in operator Compañia Minera Zahena S.A.C. has mobilised drilling equipment following the approval of permit modifications to drill more holes at the Ilo Norte project in Peru.
The permit modifications allow for drilling of up to 14 new holes off existing drill platforms located in the North Eastern part of a drill pattern completed in June.
Additional holes are planned to determine the extent and geometry of other high-grade intersections, and also to test a North West trending structure as it passes to the North East of Hole IN-018, that was drilled earlier in the year.
“We are extremely pleased that drilling will continue at Ilo Norte, testimony to the dedication of Zahena and their shared belief in the potential of the project,” Latin Resources managing director Chris Gale said.
“We are extremely encouraged by the previous drilling results at Ilo Norte and that additional drilling by our partner Zahena will unlock considerable value for the company as the geometries of the mineralised structures within the IOCG style alteration halo are better understood.”
Drilling to Commence at Nangalasso and SLAM projects
Taruga Gold (ASX: TAR) is set to commence an aircore drilling program within the company’s Nangalasso and SLAM project areas in Southern Mali.
The program follows a recent capital raising and is designed to follow up and test a number of high-grade gold mineralised results from previous exploration campaigns.
“We are excited by the prospects of the current work program at Nangalasso and SLAM,” Taruga Gold managing director Bernard Aylward said.
“The company’s tenements are highly prospective for gold mineralisation, with all early stage exploration returning highly encouraging results and confirming the geological prospectivity of the targets.”
Drilling commences at Kingfisher nickel-copper prospect
Kin Mining (ASX: KIN) has commenced Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling to test the first of two highly prospective EM targets at the company’s Kingfisher nickel-copper PGE prospect (M40/330) located near Leonora in Western Australia.
An initial three hole drill program, targeting Kingfisher Conductor Two (KFC2), one of two bedrock geophysical conductors identified in a recent Moving Loop Electro Magnetic (MLEM) survey has commenced.
Drilling to test high-grade zone
Artemis Resources (ASX: ARV) has commenced the second drill program at the Eastern Hills antimony-lead project, located in the Ashburton region of Western Australia.
The project is part of the Mt Clement Joint Venture – in which Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) holds a 20 per cent free carried interest (gold).
This second drill program follows drilling in 2013 that resulted in an Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource at the adjacent Taipan Zone.
It will focus on testing the high-grade antimony-lead zone at Dugite East, and will consist of four reverse circulation (RC) drill holes for a total of approximately 435m.
The program will test depth extensions and continuity of high-grade surface rockchip samples, examine the antimony-lead mineralogical associations and potentially provide material for further metallurgical testing of extraction methods for higher grade antimony-lead minerals.
Nickel drilling at Lake Johnston
Hannans Reward (ASX: HNR) advised the market its Joint Venture partner Reed Resources (ASX: RDR) has commenced diamond drill testing of prospective nickel sulphide targets at the Lake Johnston project, located west of Norseman in Western Australia.
“The Lake Johnston region has been re-energised by Poseidon Nickel’s recent acquisition of two nickel mines from Norilsk,” Hannans Reward managing director Damian Hicks said.
“The Hannans-Reed nickel targets, located approximately 50 kilometres from the Poseidon concentrator, have been the subject of extensive geochemical, geophysical and geological activities by both companies.
“Drilling has started and we’re optimistic that Reed will encounter nickel sulphide mineralisation in the drilling.”
Reed will drill two diamond drillholes for a total of 1,000m.