Nevada Silver Corporation (TSX-V:NSC) (NSC) has updated on the inaugural drill program, and other technical and permitting activities at its high-grade Emily Manganese project in Minnesota, USA.
A total of 2,243.9 feet (684 metres) of diamond core drilling has been completed to date and the initial three holes have been completed to target depth and samples forwarded to the ALS laboratory facility in Reno, Nevada for analysis, the company said, adding that visible manganese mineralization, including high-grade manganese oxide (manganite), was intersected in all the completed drill holes.
The Emily Project is located in the Cuyuna Iron Range of central Minnesota, an area with a rich mining history and support from established local infrastructure, a skilled mining workforce and abundant power and gas.
READ: Nevada Silver expands Emily manganese project exploration footprint with major land acquisition
"In spite of the high-level of planning and technical oversight undertaken last year in relation to the current drill program, there is always a degree of anticipation as the first drill core is extracted, however the team couldn't be more satisfied with what they're seeing. Not just in relation to the wide intercepts of visible manganese mineralization, including high-grade manganite, but also that the mineralization is being encountered at expected depths consistent with the geological model," company CEO, Gary Lewis, said in a statement.
The company said that with the co-occurrences of apparent high-grade and considerable thicknesses of mineralization in the completed holes, it is fast-tracking metallurgical and battery test work at the completion of the current phase of drilling in the eastern portion of the Emily deposit.
This work will include flow sheet development as well as bench top and pilot studies to produce manganese chemicals including high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) for future supply to a burgeoning manganese cathode market. These metallurgical tests will complement previous test work which has confirmed viable laboratory extraction of battery materials.
"We're also pleased to be accelerating our test work and environmental studies with the ultimate aim of transitioning to the development of the Emily project, and we look forward to further updating shareholders further as these programs advance," added Lewis.
Initial bulk samples will be supplemented by additional material as drilling continues across the deposit, including recently acquired ground, the company added.
NSC has commissioned Barr Engineering of Minnesota, NSC's environmental consultant, to commence environmental studies for permitting of additional drill holes within the recent land acquisition in the central portion of the deposit.
US-based Nevada Silver is a mineral development company with manganese and silver projects geared to supporting the transition to clean energy. It's principal asset is the Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota, which has been the subject of considerable technical studies, with $24 million invested to date.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com