Argent Minerals (ASX:ARD) remains a very busy exploration stock focussed in key mining districts of New South Wales, and is preparing for an increase in news flow across several assets.
First up is West Wyalong, where drill core sampling has progressed ahead of schedule with five of the six holes submitted for assay.
Core from the final hole will be submitted next week. It is a busy time in the lab with results expected in about five weeks.
Argent is also taking a highly systematic approach to the porphyry copper gold project, or a similar method to the major mining companies utilising diamond drilling.
This allows for detailed logging prior to sampling.
After visual inspections of the core during the logging process, Argent identified 80% of the drill core for submission to the lab.
Worth noting, Argent moved to its 70% stake in West Wyalong ahead of the assays after satisfying earn in requirements in the joint venture.
The interest in West Wyalong certainly comes with merit, considering its position within an active gold producing region in central New South Wales.
These include: Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN), Sandfire Resources NL (ASX:SFR), Goldfields and St. Barbara (ASX:SBM).
Kempfield polymetallic project
Moving to the Kempfield polymetallic project, Argent is preparing a 5000 metre infill drilling program which will be used for a resource estimate update.
Kempfield currently hosts a 52 million silver ounce equivalent, and has the potential to join the +100 million silver ounce equivalent club.
Also at the project, a metallurgical program has commenced to assess silver/lead/zinc recoveries in a flotation processing environment.
Loch Lilly
The third project for Argent is Loch Lilly where the company is farming-in, at a very minimal cost.
Argent’s costs will be 75% co-funded by the NSW Government up to $150,000.
A drilling application plan has been submitted to the New South Wales Government for approval.