Orion Minerals Ltd (ASX:ORN, JSE:ORN) MD and CEO Errol Smart joins Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio to discuss exceptional initial results from diamond drilling at Flat Mine East, part of the Okiep Copper Project in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa.
Drill hole OFMED153 achieved a record-breaking intercept of 49 metres at 4.89% copper from 231 metres, including a segment of 10.23 metres at 12.47% copper. This result is the highest-grade drill intercept ever reported at the Flat Mines, surpassing historical drilling results by Goldfields in 1995.
The Okiep Copper Project spans 641 square kilometres and is noted for its historical copper mining activity, with more than 105 million tonnes mined in the district over the past century. The project falls entirely within an executed Mining Right, enhancing its development prospects. The Flat Mines area, particularly Flat Mine East, is a blind discovery not evident from the surface but is integral to Orion’s early production plans.
The drilling program consists of 11 planned diamond core drill holes totalling 5,800 metres across Flat Mine East, South and North and aims to confirm historical drilling results, provide geotechnical information, and gather material for confirmatory metallurgical test work. The results so far have validated the historical data and will contribute to an updated mineral resource estimate.
Smart emphasises the strategic significance of these results, indicating the potential for high-grade copper zones within the district, which historically produced substantial copper volumes. The company plans to leverage modern exploration and mining technologies to revitalise and fully exploit the district's potential, supported by the planned acquisition of additional mineral rights at Okiep.