Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX:OBM) has fielded significant findings from its ongoing exploration efforts at the Sand King deposit, situated along the Siberia trend, some 800 metres north of the Missouri Open Pit in Western Australia.
In a recent development, the first two holes drilled at Sand King have yielded results that point to the underground potential of this resource-rich site, including what appear to be high-grade depth extensions to the orebody.
High-grade intersections
The initial drill holes revealed impressive results, with noteworthy intersections such as:
- 14.3 metres at 8.3 g/t, including an exceptional 12.0 metres at 9.8 g/t;
- 3.0 metres at 7.0 g/t and 4.9 meters at 3.6 g/t, both in the Sand King 060 lode; and
- 2.9 metres at 9.0 g/t in the Sand King 090 lode.
These results have pushed Sand King's mineralisation more than 50 metres deeper than previously documented, highlighting the robustness of the intersected grade and widths and making the area suitable for underground mining.
Expanding lode system
Sand King's multiple lode system has now expanded to over 800 metres of strike and extends for more than 200 metres below the surface, with further potential at greater depths.
Recent drilling, combined with updated structural modelling, has shown that the high-grade lodes are more continuous than previously believed, as observed in the southern section of the open pit.
To capitalise on these promising findings, the company has announced a priority 33-hole drill program focused on exploring the underground potential at Sand King, set to commence in the December quarter.
This program aims to further unveil the extent of this valuable resource and assess its feasibility for underground mining.
These developments are expected to lead to a re-interpretation of the Sand King resource, incorporating the latest drill results and a refined understanding of mineralisation controls.
This updated model will serve as the basis for an underground mine evaluation slated for early 2024.
Optimism grows
Ora Banda managing director Luke Creagh said: "Ora Banda’s historical open pit mines provide tremendous opportunity at depth and the outstanding results of these first two Sand King holes are testament to that.
“The more we learn, the more our optimism grows that we are at the early stages of unlocking what is, potentially, a large, high grade gold system.
“While it is still early days, with these initial holes combined with what we are seeing in the open pit, Sand King has strong potential to become our second underground mine.
"We are excited about the upcoming 33-hole drill program and what it could achieve, as it is advancing our strategic plan to deliver a second underground mine - something that will be a huge value driver for the business."