Base and precious metals explorer Boab Metals (ASX:BML) has started a phase seven drilling program at its 75% owned Sorby Hills Lead-Silver-Zinc Project in Western Australia.
The company reports the planned phase seven drilling program will see 19 diamond drillholes completed for about 2,000m at the Norton deposit. This program is targeting opportunities to increase the reserve base at Norton through additional metallurgical testwork and extensional and infill drilling.
Additional metallurgical testwork will potentially improve conservative metal recoveries adopted in a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS). Boab estimates the drilling program will take about 6 weeks to complete, with assay results targeted to be returned in mid-Q3 2023.
Commenting on the drilling program, Boab Metals Managing Director Simon Noon says: “With the 2023 field season underway, I am delighted to announce the kick-off of our phase seven drill program.
“The phase seven program’s primary objective will be to grow the Sorby Hills production target through a combination of metallurgical, extensional, and infill drilling”
The phase seven program’s primary objective will be to grow the Sorby Hills production target through a combination of metallurgical, extensional, and infill drilling.
The opportunities at Norton are particularly exciting, where conservative metal recoveries adopted for the DFS have significant scope for improvement based on historical data and geological similarity of ore styles and mineral types.
Furthermore, recent high-grade intersections adjacent to our DFS pit design provide a low-risk target for mine life extension. We look forward to reporting the results as they come to hand.
In conjunction with our 2023 drill program, Boab continues to advance towards a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Sorby Hills Project, with preferred EPC contractor GRES firming up front-end engineering and design work and discussions with financiers ongoing.”
Boab reports results from metallurgical testwork conducted on core retrieved from Norton displayed results that were mixed and ‘at odds’ with historical data, compared to consistently ‘high’ recoveries demonstrated by core retrieved from the Omega and B deposits.
The company says metallurgical drilling at Norton will aim to determine whether there is a spatial constraint on the poorer-performing material and provide additional core to conduct further metallurgical testwork. A positive result could lead to a material increase in the overall metal recovered from Norton.
Results from phase six extensional drilling at Norton revealed several ‘high-grade’ intersections on the fringe of the current open pit design, including SHMR_149 which was stopped in ‘high-grade’ mineralisation due to technical issues with the drill rig. Phase seven drilling intends to follow up on these intersections, aiming to demonstrate the continuity of the mineralisation and the potential for incorporating them into a revised pit design.
Meanwhile, at the Manbarrum Zinc-Silver-Lead Project 25km east of Sorby Hills, Boab reports it plans to systematically work through numerous structural targets to find additional long-term feed for the Sorby Hills plant.
These targets were identified through a 3D model of the geology that was created using existing seismic data from oil and gas exploration, along with mapping and drilling data.
Boab Metals is a Western Australian explorer and developer with interests in Australia and South America. In Australia, the company is focused on developing its 75% owned Sorby Hills Lead-Silver-Zinc Joint Venture (JV), with the remaining 25% held by HenanYuguang Gold and Lead (SHA:600531).
Along with Sorby Hills, the company also holds the Manbarrum and Eight Mile Creek projects, as well as the Berrio, Natagaima, and Urrao projects in Columbia.
Write to Harry Mulholland at Mining.com.au
Images: Boab Metals Ltd
