Manuka Resources Limited (ASX: MKR) announced that the recent in-pit grade control drilling at its Mt Boppy gold deposit at Canbelego, NSW has extended the zone of high-grade gold mineralisation beneath the Mt Boppy pit.
The company said that assays from four RC drill holes were received and incorporated into 3D modelling. Significant intersections included 22m @ 11.78 g/t Au from 159m downhole depth; and 17m @ 4.33 g/t Au from 180m downhole depth.
MKR reported that intercepts are 30-50m below the current planned pit floor confirming the existence of high grade mineralisation outside the current pit shell.
Mauka said that the economic analysis of gold potential below current proposed pit floor will commence when further results are received.
RC drilling at Mt Boppy
The company had commenced RC drilling at Mt Boppy to follow up previously reported high grade intercepts in the hangingwall (west side) of back-filled stopes in the Mount Boppy gold deposit.
MKR said that four reverse circulation (RC) drill holes, MBRC019, MBRC020, MBRC021, and MBRC022 were designed to test the down-dip extents of high-grade gold mineralisation defined by previous RC grade control and surface drilling.
High-grade intersections
The company announced that high-grade zones were encountered in historic drilling and mining higher in the deposit, associated with dip and strike flexures of the Mount Boppy Main Lode.
MKR said that the first two holes, MBRC019 and MBRC020, proceeded well and intercepted the Main Lode within 3.5m and 8.5m respectively of their planned locations. MBRC021 and MBRC022 deviated significantly, intercepting the lode 18m and 11.2m from plan respectively.
Significant hits included MBRC019: 159m – 181m (22m) average 11.78 g/t Au (no stope fill included) including 159m – 165m (6m) average 5.37 g/t Au and 174m – 181m (7 m) average 30.98 g/t Au; and MBRC020: 180m – 197m (17m) average 4.33 g/t Au (no stope fill included). The company said that these intercepts are approximately 30m to 50m beneath the current planned pit floor.
Details of drill hole intercepts are as shown below.
Manuka said that these results again confirm the existence of exciting grades of gold mineralisation below the current pit shell.
Management comments
Manuka’s Executive Chairman Dennis Karp said: “The ongoing drilling campaign into the existing Mt Boppy pit, targeting mineralisation beneath the current pit design, continues to deliver excellent grades. This is the fourth set of drill holes the Company has reported on since August 2020, and all four sets significantly contribute to the thesis that Mt Boppy has potential to have a much longer life than currently planned. We are certainly incentivised to continue exploration to build our resource inventory for future exploitation. We have planned further drilling to intersect below the current pit design (again from surface) and expect these holes to be completed mid- March.
The current strategy for Manuka is to conclude mining the current Mt Boppy pit design by May/June 2021, and process those mined Mt Boppy ores until around July. We then intend to commence the processing and production of the Wonawinta stockpiles, as we become Australia’s newest silver producer, and notably Australia’s largest primary silver producer.”
*Image source: Manuka Resources Limited