Eastern Metals Ltd (ASX:EMS) has set a suite of exploration programs in motion after receiving all necessary approvals for exploration activities over its Arunta Project in the Northern Territory, a land holding of 593 square kilometres between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
The company has begun soil sampling over areas of known copper anomalies along trend from the Home of Bullion mine and Prospect D and 10 kilometres to the northwest at the Mulbangas copper prospect, where copper samples were recently collected at surface.
Aside from soil sampling, Eastern will also begin mapping outcropping pegmatites identified at the Neutral Junction Station and drill site preparation for the Home of Bullion mine, where contractors are inspecting proposed works.
Resource expansion program to begin shortly
“We have been working closely with the Central Land Council to obtain the final approval required to commence exploration activities on EL23186,” Eastern Metals managing director and CEO Wayne Rossiter said.
“Following our recent reconnaissance visit we have now commenced our soil sampling orientation program which is designed to test the effectiveness of this technique in areas of exposed regolith and where previous RAB (rotary air blast) and vacuum drilling has identified anomalous copper.
“The objective of this program is to define new prospects that may host further copper lodes along trend from both Home of Bullion and Prospect D.
“Our resource expansion program at Home of Bullion comprises a total of 10 holes with up to six to be drilled in this upcoming program.
“Drill pad preparation will commence shortly in anticipation of diamond drilling commencing in the near future.”
The Home of Bullion mine is Eastern’s flagship asset, hosting a total mineral resource of 2.5 million tonnes averaging 1.8% copper, 2.0% zinc, 36 g/t silver, 1.2% lead and 0.14 g/t gold.
Aside from resource expansion drilling within the Home of Bullion resource boundary, the company will also drill two holes outside the resource, funded by competitive grants won under the Northern Territory Government’s Resourcing the Territory initiative worth up to $142,000.