Auric Mining Ltd (ASX:AWJ) is actioning a selection of drilling, heritage survey, and permitting activities across its Chalice West and Jeffreys Find projects in Western Australia, seeking to uncover the potential within the newly acquired Chalice West Project and bring Jeffreys Find into production.
Auric recently completed an option agreement with local geologist John Williams to acquire the Chalice West Project via his vehicle Mineral Business Development Pty Ltd.
The company has since completed a heritage survey with the help of the Ngadju Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and gained approval for a program of works (PoW) from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS).
AWJ also executed a drilling contract with Kalgoorlie-based drilling contractor, Kennedy Drilling, with a drill rig scheduled to start work in mid-October.
Underexplored opportunity
“We are quickly moving ahead with the Chalice West Project,” Auric Mining managing director Mark English said.
“This project is an exciting new opportunity in an underexplored area.”
Auric intends to undertake 220 aircore-drilled holes across Chalice West to test for gold mine analogues and other minerals including nickel, lithium and rare earth elements.
The Chalice Gold Mine 8 kilometres to the west produced 700,000 ounces of gold over seven years at an average grade of 5.2 g/t, a feat Auric would no doubt like to repeat.
The company has already applied for a new tenement at Chalice West (E15/1925), a 64-square-kilometre area covering the granite dome between Chalice Gold Mine and the Chalice West tenure.
Jeffreys Find development
Auric recently announced an agreement with BML Ventures Pty Limited to begin the process of developing the Jeffreys Find deposit into a producing gold mine.
Read: Auric Mining edges closer to commencing gold mining at Jeffreys Find; shares move up
The company has begun various permitting and mine planning activities to this end, including discussions with toll mills and with the Department of Transport and Main Roads. A vegetation and flora study is planned for September.
AWJ intends to complete geotechnical drilling and pre-mine grade control in the coming weeks, supervised by mining partner BML Ventures.