Aiming To Boost Vietnam Project Resource Numbers
Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX:BSX)has commenced drilling MSV targets at the Ta Khoa Nickel-PGE project in Vietnam.
Blackstone’s in-house geophysics crew has recently generated a 1km long massive sulfide target within a 12km long district-scale exploration corridor which it will drill test over the coming months.
Managing Director, Scott Williamson, said Blackstone is targeting MSV prospects analogous to the previously mined Ban Phuc MSV, where previous owners successfully mined 975kt from an average vein width of 1.3m and average grades of 2.4% Ni & 1.0% Cu.
The high priority prospects outlined within this announcement will be the company’s initial targets in the next phase of advanced exploration and drill testing.
“It’s a pleasure to be drilling and exploring our district-scale massive sulfide opportunities throughout the Ta Khoa Nickel-PGE project,” Mr Williamson said.
“By using our in-house geophysics crew and our own drill rigs, we can cost effectively explore this globally significant nickel sulfide district using modern geophysical techniques to unlock the significant potential of the world-class geology.
“We see potential to increase annual nickel production from the Ta Khoa Nickel-PGE project through targeting high-grade massive sulfide veins to complement the base load nickel sulfide feed to be potentially mined from the Ban Phuc DSS and King Cobra discovery zone.”
Blackstone Minerals aims to deliver a maiden resource in Q3, focused initially on the DSS at Ban Phuc and continues to investigate the potential to restart the existing Ban Phuc concentrator through focused exploration on both MSV and DSS deposits.
Blackstone has commenced a scoping study on the downstream processing facility at Ta Khoa. The scoping study, also to be announced in Q3, will provide details for joint venture partners to formalise the next stage of investment.
Blackstone has commenced metallurgical testing on the Ban Phuc DSS deposit with an aim to develop a flow sheet for a product suitable for the lithium-ion battery industry. In addition, Blackstone Minerals will investigate the potential to develop downstream processing infrastructure in Vietnam to produce a downstream nickel and cobalt product to supply Asia’s growing lithium-ion battery industry.
The Ta Khoa Nickel-PGE Project in northern Vietnam includes an existing modern nickel mine, which has been under care and maintenance since 2016 due to falling nickel prices. Existing infrastructure includes an internationally designed 450ktpa processing plant
. Previous project owners focused mining and exploration efforts primarily on the MSV at Ban Phuc. Blackstone plans to explore both MSV and DSS targets throughout the project, initially within a 5km radius of the existing processing facility. Blackstone will conduct further geophysics on the MSV and DSS targets and continue its maiden drilling campaign.
