Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX:SVM, AIM:SVML) has received more strong results from a targeted deep infill aircore and push tube core drilling program at the Kasiya Rutile Project in Malawi, the world’s largest rutile deposit.
The results are from 98 aircore holes and 247 push tube holes and have confirmed the consistency of high-grade rutile and graphite mineralisation at depth.
Aircore results include:
- 31 metres at 1.14% rutile & 1.9% graphite;
- 27 metres at 1.08% rutile & 2.1% graphite;
- 29 metres at 1.14% rutile & 1.7% graphite;
- 24 metres at 1.14% rutile & 1.8% graphite;
- 21 metres at 1.28% rutile & 1.9% graphite;
- 25 metres at 1.18% rutile & 2.0% graphite;
- 25 metres at 1.08% rutile & 5.2% graphite;
- 26 metres at 1.16% rutile & 1.5% graphite;
- 26 metres at 1.07% rutile & 1.4% graphite; and
- 24 metres at 1.13% rutile & 4.0% graphite.
The infill core push tube drilling of several inferred category pits and potential pit extensions conducted by SVM is expected to add new blocks of indicated material to the upcoming mineral resource estimate (MRE) update targeted for later this quarter.
Further to this, Kasiya’s pre-feasibility study (PFS) and environmental and social baseline workstreams are on schedule with the targeted completion of the PFS sometime in the first half of 2023.
“We are pleased with the consistency of the high-grade rutile results from the 2022 Kasiya infill resource drilling program," Sovereign’s managing director Dr Julian Stephens said.
"These results will all now feed into a revised resource estimate planned for Q1 2023 as part of the company’s forthcoming PFS.”
About the aircore drilling
SVM completed a 191-hole aircore drilling program at Kasiya, with the final batch of the remaining 98 holes for 2,548 metres now released. This drilling phase targeted the early-scheduled mining pit shells in the southern and central areas of the MRE footprint.
Drilling has revealed that rutile and graphite mineralisation is commonly pervasive throughout the saprolite zone and beyond the base of the current modelled pit shells.
However, it is not expected the revised MRE incorporating these results will materially impact the mine plan to be included in the PFS.
Eastern pit on section 8,478,400mN showing high-grade graphite and rutile mineralisation.
Push tube core drilling
The core program objectives were to target high-grade Inferred mining pits and potential areas of pit extensions to bring into the indicated category to facilitate conversion to ore reserves in the upcoming PFS.
Overall, results are as expected and continue to confirm laterally extensive and consistent rutile and graphite mineralisation at Kasiya.
Kasiya drilling map showing the aircore drilling concentrated within proposed mining pits and the push tube targeted on potential lateral extensions to the pits.
The push tube results are:
- 11 metres at 1.70% rutile including 3 metres at 2.13%;
- 12 metres at 1.36% including 7 metres at 1.63%;
- 11 metres at 1.27% including 9 metres at 1.40%;
- 7 metres at 1.67% including 6 metres at 1.79%;
- 11 metres at 1.20% including 4 metres at 1.72%;
- 9 metres at 1.28% including 4 metres at 1.68%;
- 13 metres at 1.19% including 1-metre at 2.29%;
- 13 metres at 1.26% including 9 metres at 1.45%;
- 14 metres at 1.15% including 2 metres at 2.02%;
- 15 metres at 1.03% including 2 metres at 2.16%;
- 11 metres at 1.11% including 6 metres at 1.43%; and
- 14 metres at 1.11% including 2 metres at 1.84%.
Working towards the PFS
Once the PFS resource drilling programs were finished, the rigs continued to execute additional PFS work programs including water bore exploration drilling, water monitoring holes, geotechnical drilling of the water dam wall, geotechnical mining pit hole drilling and community borehole drilling until November 2022.
SVM also completed four deep stratigraphic geology holes to benefit the geological interpretation of the mineralisation at Kasiya.
It was found Kasiya is underlain by a rutile and graphite-rich paragneiss parent host rock. These stratigraphic holes were suitable as pit geotechnical test work holes where standard penetration testing was completed and as observation water bores which will be monitored over the coming years.
SVM was also able to drill new community water bores as well as refurbish several existing ones.