Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX, OTCQX:BLSTF, FRA:B9S) has intersected 147 metres of disseminated nickel sulphide during its maiden drilling at the new Ban Khoa prospect within Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project in northern Vietnam.
Ban Khoa is a bulk tonnage open pit opportunity that has potential to provide mine life extension and complement mining at the nearby large Ban Phuc open pit deposit.
The Ban Khoa DSS prospect is being targeted for inclusion in the company's upcoming Upstream Business Unit (UBU) PFS.
Notable results from the program include:
- 147 metres at 0.31% nickel, 0.04% copper, 0.01% cobalt and 0.14 g/t PGE from 62 metres, including 34.65 metres at 0.55%, 0.08%, 0.01% and 0.37 g/t from 103.7 metres that in turn included 10.6 metres at 1.06%, 0.11%, 0.02% and 0.88 g/t from 123.3 metres;
- 67.7 metres at 0.33% nickel, 0.04% copper, 0.01% cobalt and 0.19 g/t PGE from 105.3 metres and 32.1 metres at 0.48%, 0.08%, 0.01% and 0.33 g/t from 193.1 metres; and
- 60.2 metres at 0.37% nickel, 0.07% copper, 0.01% cobalt and 0.09 g/t PGE from 208.6 metres, including 10.8 metres at 1.03%, 0.13%, 0.02% and 0.39 g/t from 210.2 metres.
Looking ahead to maiden resource
BSX managing director Scott Williamson said: “We are pleased to present the results of Blackstone’s first drill program at the Ban Khoa prospect.
“Ban Khoa is a bulk tonnage disseminated opportunity with excellent potential to complement mining and processing of material from the large Ban Phuc open pit orebody.
“We look forward to presenting a maiden resource for Ban Khoa as part of Blackstone’s UBU PFS and are confident that the current reported drilling results are indicative of the significant geological upside that Blackstone will continue to unlock at our flagship Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE project.”
Metallurgical test-work continues
The Ban Khoa disseminated nickel sulphide deposit is hosted by a synclinal or boat-shaped serpentinised peridotite, around 1 kilometre north of the Ban Phuc disseminated nickel sulphide deposit.
The deposit is on a hill, similar to the Ban Phuc DSS deposit, which is expected to be advantageous for mining and presents another bulk tonnage DSS opportunity with the potential to extend mine life and increase throughput.
Blackstone is performing metallurgical test-work to determine the blending characteristics for Ban Phuc and Ban Khoa ore.