Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX:STK) has made strong drilling progress for its maiden exploration campaign at the flagship Millrose Gold Project on the world-class Yandal Greenstone Belt in Western Australia.
Major 23,000-metre reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling programs are underway at Millrose with an initial 12 RC pre-collars and the first two diamond holes completed.
To date, 45 short RC holes have been drilled into the laterite gold zone as part of an initial 84-hole resource drill-out program.
Looking ahead, Strickland’s RC rig is expected to move on to targeting strike extensions of Millrose North and Millrose South - upon completion of the laterite program next week.
“Number one priority”
Strickland CEO Andrew Bray said: “We’re extremely excited to be underway with our planned programs at Millrose.
“Millrose is our flagship asset and number one priority at our Yandal Gold Project.
“High-grade gold mineralisation is open in virtually every direction, with the current program being designed to bring more of the known mineralisation into an expanded mineral resource.“
“Proximal exploration is also likely to yield the discovery of further gold mineralisation.”
Diamond drill program
Strickland’s initial diamond drilling is focused at Millrose North, with the mineralisation in this area being of a consistently higher grade tenor, and open at depth.
About 18 diamond holes for 3,500 metres have been designed to:
- Enhance the understanding of the mineralisation controls, specifically the elevated grade displayed at the currently interpreted weathered-to-fresh boundary;
- Reduce the drill density to 20m x 20m within zones of elevated mineralisation;
- Enable the modelling of both structural and weathering controls on the mineralisation distribution;
- Carry out bulk density testwork to improve confidence in tonnage and contained metal conversions; and
- Assess the historical data quality with twinned holes.
Bray adds: The first 12 RC pre-collar holes are complete, with the diamond rig having completed the first two holes at the Millrose North resource.
“The core is currently being cut and will be transported to Perth this weekend.”
Geologists with diamond hole MRDD002.
Laterite gold zone
Strickland’s initial shallow RC program, consisting of 84 holes across 1,700 metres, has been designed on a 40-metre (north-south) by 20-metre (east-west) grid, to define the extents of this mineralised laterite horizon.
Once this initial program has been finalised and the results reviewed, the second phase of RC drilling, to define a 20 by 20-metre grid will be completed to assist with a first-pass laterite gold mineral resource.
Bray adds: “The RC rig is currently drilling out the laterite gold area as part of an initial 84-hole program. The laterite gold mineralisation lies primarily from surface to 20-metre depth and is across a large, coherent zone of +1g/t gold mineralisation.
“Over half of this program is complete, and the company expects to wrap up the laterite program at some stage next week.
“Any potential laterite mineral resource estimation will provide the company with quick upfront cash flow in a development scenario.”
Extensional RC drilling
Historic aircore drilling has intersected significant gold mineralisation in shallow drilling demonstrating the continuity of the main controlling mineralising structures.
A program of approximately 14 RC holes, for a total of 3,000 metres have been planned to test these primary mineralised structures.
Notably, this program is designed on 90-metre (north-south) spacings, with infill and extensional RC and diamond drilling being undertaken, pending these initial results.
Bray adds: “...the RC rig will then begin drilling for northern and southern extensions of the current mineral resource.
“Importantly, historic aircore drilling has intersected the same shallow oxide mineralisation as we see above the existing fresh-rock resource and various geophysical datasets suggest continuity of the primary gold-bearing structure.
“Dill out of the ‘gap’ in between the Millrose North and Millrose South will also be included.”
Forward plan
Strickland’s RC rig is to move on to targeting strike extensions of Millrose North and Millrose South upon completion of the laterite program which is expected next week.
Bray adds: “The RC and diamond rigs have both been secured for the entirety of 2022.
“A third rig is expected to be added next month, with the focus being on both resource drilling as well as regional exploration.
“It’s fair to say a huge amount of very exciting drilling is going to be occurring over the next few months!
“Millrose is a very strategic asset on this part of the Yandal belt, being only 30 kilometres due east of Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST)’s giant Jundee gold operation and approximately 20 kilometres northeast of their recently mined Ramone open-pit deposit.
“Strickland is targeting an updated mineral resource towards the end of 2022.”