Barminco has been awarded the development contract for the underground exploration drill drive at Spartan Resources’ Dalgaranga gold project in WA.
The new drill drive is expected to infill and extend existing deposits and detect new high-grade shoots.
The $18.3 million contract provides 2350m of development to deliver twin decline access for the establishment of underground drilling platforms to infill and extend mineralisation within the project’s West Winds, Four Pillars and Never Never areas.
The award of this new development contract and extensions to four existing projects brings the total of Spartan Resources’ contracts with Barminco to $160 million.
Spartan Resources managing director and chief executive officer Simon Lawson said the company is delighted for Barminco to complete the construction of the new drill drive, which enables drilling from platforms located alongside high-grade deposits.
“All of the high-grade deposits and prospects discovered at Dalgaranga over the past two years remain open at depth – with mineralisation at the Never Never deposit now defined to beyond 1km below surface – and we’re very excited to get the underground rigs in place to help determine just how deep this high-grade mineralisation extends” Lawson said.
“Importantly, the drill drive is being constructed using the same dimensions as a standard underground mine development, ensuring it can be incorporated into our infrastructure planning for the future recommencement of mining operations.
“Construction of the drill drive is set to kick-off later this quarter and is expected to take approximately 10 months to complete. In addition, we will also shortly re-commence surface drilling programs, targeting the Pepper, Four Pillars, West Winds and other near-surface anomalies, ensuring plenty of exciting news flow for shareholders in the months ahead.”
The drill drive has been designed to provide underground drill platforms run parallel and adjacent along a single 800m long semi-continuously mineralised north south stratigraphic horizon.
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