Recent extensional drilling at Manuka Resources’ (ASX:MKR) Mt Boppy gold mine in the Cobar Basin of NSW has returned high-grade gold some 100m below the current pit floor demonstrating the system is bigger than previously thought.
A programme across the Mt Boppy MLs comprised 43 RC drill holes for a total depth of 8,771m. The programme’s primary target was extensions of existing high gold mineralisation defined by previous drilling beneath the Mt Boppy open pit. Secondary targets across the MLs tested conceptual structural and geophysical targets designed to define high risk – high reward resource gold ounces on the existing Mining Leases.
Highlights:
- Drilling beneath Mt Boppy yielded a particularly outstanding intercept of 30m at 7.62g/t gold, including 15m at 15.2g/t.
- RC drill holes collared at surface extended the defined zone of high grade gold mineralisation by 30m along strike and at depth to 100m below the Mt Boppy pit floor, approximately 50m deeper than previous drilling and it remains open at depth.
- Upgraded resource likely to be released in the June quarter.
“The recent RC surface drilling programme at Mount Boppy has shown that the Boppy Main Lode is bigger than previously estimated,” Executive Chairman Dennis Karp said.
“ It extends 50m deeper than previously defined, up to 100m below the current pit floor and remains open at depth. The wide and high grade gold intercepts observed in eight holes are most encouraging signs that deeper mining at Mount Boppy becomes an option, either through a deeper open pit or as an underground operation.
“We will include these results into an upgraded JORC resource likely in the June Quarter. Naturally we are disappointed that the program was not completed as originally planned as a result of the highly unusual weather event, however the results obtained are very exciting. The
“ company has transitioned to silver production at Wonawinta, after the Mt Boppy deposit provided well over 6 months’ more ore and mine life than originally forecast.
“These new drill results have provided Manuka with a realistic option to stage a second campaign of mining from a deposit that delivered strongly for shareholders.
“We continue to pursue our strategy to identify Mt Boppy look-alikes and believe that there is potential for a deeper more substantial deposit based on indications to date.”
Conclusions
The recent RC drill programme under the Mt Boppy pit shows that the Boppy Main Lode mineralisation extends 30m along strike from previous deep intercepts and at least some 100m vertical depth below the pit floor, to 60m RL.
Several wide and high-grade gold intercepts (in holes MBRC-032, -036, -060) demonstrate excellent potential to increase the gold resource at Mt Boppy and Manuka anticipates a resource upgrade at Mt Boppy, most likely in the June Quarter. The holes that deviated from their prognosed tracks and those that terminated at the mineralised interface due water inrush did not allow a complete assessment of the Boppy Main Lode depth extension. Further drilling may be required to fully define the extent of mineralisation sufficient to define the full in-situ resource.
For further information please visit: https://www.manukaresources.com.au
