Tartana Minerals (ASX:TAT) has commenced drilling at its Nightflower Silver Project in Far North Queensland, marking the first program at the project in 18 years.
The initial drilling targets polymetallic silver-lead-dominant mineralisation within and around the historically defined Digger Lode system.
Tartana says the program will provide further geological information to refine subsequent drilling and exploration.
Commencement follows completion of a conduct and compensation agreement and associated site-access works. The works enabled the company to expedite mobilisation of its truck-mounted drill rig.
In parallel, Tartana has completed field reconnaissance and rock-chip sampling across the Digger and Terrace lodes. Samples have been submitted for laboratory analysis, with assay results pending.
The Digger Lode hosts a previously reported exploration target of 2.75 million tonnes (Mt) @ 364 grams per tonne silver equivalent (AgEq) for about 32 million ounces (Moz) AgEq, up to 5.36Mt @ 70g/t AgEq for about 47Moz AgEq.
The target is conceptual, and Tartana notes there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a mineral resource.
The silver equivalent calculation incorporates silver, gold, copper, zinc, lead, and antimony, reflecting the polymetallic nature of the Digger Lode.
Meanwhile, the Terrace Lode, south of Digger, has had no drilling programs since 1990.
Executive Chairman Sonny Didugu says Nightflower has not been drilled since 2008 despite the scale of the exploration target and the historical workings extending through the broader project area.
“Our immediate focus is on testing the Digger Lode and building our understanding of the system through drilling, field mapping, and sampling,” Didugu adds.
Nightflower sits about 40km north of Chillagoe and forms part of Tartana’s portfolio of base and precious metals projects in the region.
The company says results from the current work will guide how it sequences the next phase of exploration. This includes further work across Digger and the Terrace Lode.
Tartana Minerals is an Australian explorer and copper sulphate producer advancing base and precious metals assets across Far North Queensland.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Tartana Minerals
