Inca Minerals Limited’s (ASX: ICG) maiden drill programme at the Frewena IOCG-SEDEX Project in the East Tennant Province, Northern Territory, Australia, is due to start imminently.
The first of two drill rigs will be mobilised to commence drilling in the Mount Lamb area in two to three days. The Inca field team is onsite and currently flagging access for the first holes, with access clearing scheduled to start tomorrow.
Rig One will commence in the north at the greater Mount Lamb area, where multiple highly ranked iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) and sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) targets have been defined.
The northern reconnaissance drilling programme comprises 12,400 m of drilling in 13 holes over the Mount Lamb SW, Mount Lamb NE, Desert Creek and Plains targets.
Rig Two will commence in the south at the Jumping Spider-Roadhouse target area.
The first hole is likely to be at Jumping Spider, which is a very large and highly rated IOCG and SEDEX target. The southern reconnaissance program comprises 3,400 m of drilling in four holes.
The entire Frewena reconnaissance drill programme comprises 20,600 m of drilling that includes additional holes at the Alpaca Hill and South West targets.
As Rig 1 is deployed at the larger of the two sub-programmes in the greater Mount Lamb area, it is likely that Rig 2 will move onto the Alpaca Hill and South West targets, following Jumping Spider and Roadhouse.
The company has recently engaged highly experienced exploration geologist, Dr Emmanuel Wembenyui, who will immediately be deployed to supervise the drilling at Frewena.
Dr Wembenyui brings a wealth of experience to the Inca team, with expertise in executing drilling campaigns and extensive experience in large mineral systems of central Australia.
The company’s Mount Isa field base is now operational. The core logging, cutting, sampling and storage facilities will be installed ahead of receiving the first consignment of core from Rigs 1 and 2. Inca field crew at site of government drill hole NDIBK04.
Inca’s Managing Director, Mr Ross Brown, who is currently between Mount Isa and the project area, said the use of two rigs for the company’s maiden reconnaissance drilling programme at Frewena is transformational in terms of delivery and operational efficiency.
“It not only doubles drilling rates and halves program completion times but is also provides flexibility in target coverage and drill-hole sequencing.
“If strong visible mineralisation is intersected, we have the option to immediately follow-up with step-out drilling. The second rig is still available to continue testing the other targets.
“The first drill rig has recently been serviced following a previous company’s programme and is currently at Mount Isa. Based on direct talks, the drilling contractor will commence mobilisation in one or two days. The second drill rig (Rig 2) is also in Mount Isa and will be ready next week for Inca.
“With demand for drilling at 10-year highs, Inca’s exploration team has certainly hit the ground running by securing two drill rigs for this exciting programme. I’ve also seen for the first time Inca’s Mount Isa field base. It is a going to be a much-used exploration hub for Inca – an ideal springboard for exploration programs at Frewena, Jean Elson and MaCauley Creek.
“With our recently appointed highly experienced geologist now already making material contributions and with drilling access improvements currently underway, I am confident the much-anticipated Frewena drilling programme can advance at an accelerated rate and at maximised proficiencies.
“The objective of the Frewena reconnaissance program is to discover tier-1 scale IOCG and/or SEDEX mineralisation. The targets, which have been independently recognised and defined, are ready as the drill rigs approach.”
For further information please visit: https://www.incaminerals.com.au/
