Tempus Resources Ltd (ASX:TMR) is planning to commence exploration at the Blackdome-Elizabeth Project in British Columbia, Canada in the second quarter of this year.
The program will comprise sampling and analysis of potentially mineralised drill core from previous drilling programs.
Significant drilling and sampling programs are scheduled to commence at both Blackdome and Elizabeth in May, focusing on resource extension, verification and exploration of newly discovered targets, including the prospect 2.5 kilometres from the known Elizabeth deposit.
Blackdome-Elizabeth resource update
The Blackdome-Elizabeth Project hosts an indicated and inferred resource under Canadian NI43-101, which is a ‘qualifying foreign resource estimate’ as defined in the ASX Listing Rules.
The estimate was completed by SRK Consulting and Micon International in 2009 and 2010.
Based on Tempus’ plans to fast-track on ground exploration activities at Blackdome-Elizabeth, including drill-testing the new prospect near Elizabeth, and recent meetings with the company’s technical consultants in Vancouver, the company has resolved to update the resource from NI43-101 to JORC by the end of the 2020 exploration program.
Mineral Creek Project – Vancouver Island
As part of the acquisition of Sona Resources, the holder of the Blackdome-Elizabeth Project in late 2019, a number of additional mineral licences in Vancouver Island, British Columbia were acquired, which are collectively known as the Mineral Creek Project.
It is comprised of 42 contiguous mineral claims totalling 9,877 hectares, and the predominant geological structure is the north-south-trending Mineral Creek fault zone, which hosts the Mineral Creek gold zone.
Several narrow quartz veins that splay off the Mineral Creek fault have returned bonanza-grade gold assay values.
The property has a long history of exploration and high-grade gold mining, beginning with placer mining of China Creek in the 1860s.
An initial reconnaissance visit to the project was conducted by a consultant to Tempus in December 2019, to assess the condition of access roads and underground workings, to assist in the preparation of a strategy to progress exploration on the property.
Tempus has received interest in participation in the Mineral Creek Project from several parties, and is currently considering options to create value for shareholders from this non-core property, with the major focus remaining on Blackdome-Elizabeth.