Southern Palladium (ASX:SPD) has commenced a Phase 1 drilling programme at its Bengwenyama PGM project located on the Eastern Limb of the world class Bushveld Complex, South Africa.
Three drill rigs have now been mobilised on-site at Bengwenyama, where the first drill rig has commenced drilling. Preparations are on track for the other two rigs to commence drilling within the week.
Phase 1 Drill Programme
The Phase 1a programme will comprise a wider spaced drilling grid (~750m grid), consisting of the initial 31 drillholes. The aim of the programme is to confirm and refine the existing 3D structural model for the shallower areas on the Eastern portion of the farm Eerstegeluk 327 KT. This will be followed by the Phase 1b programme (32 drillholes), which will comprise infill drilling across a narrower drilling grid (~350m grid).
Infill drilling will improve the confidence in the grade distribution and is aimed at converting the targeted shallow portion of Eerstegeluk 327 KT to a JORC 2012-compliant Indicated Mineral Resource.
A successful resource upgrade will then form the basis of the forthcoming Mining Right application.
Drilling rigs
The drill rigs that have been deployed for the Phase 1 programme are equipped to drill the shallower areas where the depths are expected to range from approximately 60m to 550m, with an average depth of around 288m. The drill rigs in operation are an Atlas Copco CS-1500, a Delta 520 and a YWE D90R. The three drill rigs are capable of drilling 800m, 180m and 100m respectively, and give Southern Palladium the requisite capabilities to complete Phase 1 drilling as planned.
“The commencement of Phase 1 drilling marks a major milestone for the Bengwenyama project, and we are looking forward to receiving the first core trays at our core logging facility to prepare samples for assaying,” Managing Director, Johan Odendaal, said.
“With the fenced off section which houses the laydown area, project offices and core logging facilities now fully-upgraded and a communication network installed, key project operations have all been set up at one central location.
“Importantly, this will allow for the short-distance transport of core, and direct communications between the on-site operational staff and management team in Johannesburg and Sydney. With the introduction of a further two drilling rigs, we are confident of achieving our key project benchmarks within the original time frame.”
The Bengwenyama project has already delivered a JORC 2012-compliant Inferred Mineral Resource of 18.8Moz within two ore horizons – the UG2 chromitite and Merensky Reef. In addition, an assessment by mining industry consultants CSA Global assessed the total resource potential of Bengwenyama at between 33.9Moz and 52.4Moz.
For further information please visit: https://www.southernpalladium.com
