Phoenix Copper Ltd (AIM:PXC, OTCQX:PXCLF) told investors that its 2022 drilling programme is underway, as scheduled, at its flagship Empire Mine project in Idaho, USA.
A core drilling rig capable of drilling 85mm PQ-diameter core samples has arrived at the project, the AIM-quoted base and precious metals explorer said.
It will initially focus on collecting core samples for metallurgical and geotechnical studies from the open pit.
Chief executive Ryan McDermott said: "The results of these studies may enable us to bring forward production of gold and silver, currently scheduled as a second phase of the open pit project.
"Once the Empire open pit drilling is completed, the rig will begin further exploratory drilling in the Red Star and Empire Sulphides areas. We are actively searching for further drilling capacity for this season and will contract additional drill rigs when and if they become available."
Drilling is expected to add to the company's understanding of ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) as a non-toxic, environmentally friendly reagent for the recovery of copper, gold, silver, and zinc from the open pit resource.
Phoenix plans to use the core samples for metallurgical testing, geotechnical data for enhanced pit slope stability studies and resource assaying for enhanced continuity of copper, gold, silver, and zinc grades.
In addition to the drilling programme, the company is completing ongoing open pit engineering trade-off studies for further economic and environmental optimisation as part of the feasibility study process.
"The Empire open pit feasibility study remains in progress whilst our engineers complete further trade-off and optimization studies," said McDermott.
"The global volatility in pricing for everything from structural steel to chemical reagents has also slowed progress on the study. However, we are receiving some indications that markets are slowly calming and supply backlogs are shortening."
Phoenix added that a core value of the company is not only meeting but exceeding minimum legal environmental standards.
The baseline environmental data collected to date will be used for furthering the permitting process and will be used as the "building blocks" for the company's ongoing environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) platform, overseen by its ESG & Sustainability committee.