Argent Minerals has begun a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its Kempfield polymetallic project in New South Wales.
Located only 40km south-east of Newmont’s Cadia Valley operation, Kempfield drilling will target several key prospects outside the existing mineral resource estimate (MRE).
The company will focus on the Kempfield NW, Sugarloaf Hill, Henry’s, and Golden Wattle prospects.
“Argent is pleased to announce that we have commenced drilling over our flagship project, Kempfield in NSW,” Argent Minerals managing director Pedro Kastellorizos said.
“Recent work in the project area has delineated significant walk-up drill targets which are yet to be systematically drill tested.”
The RC drilling program is set to include 54 drill holes across 3500m, with depths ranging from 50m to 100m, depending on preliminary XRF results.
“We will be testing the recently identified 13 zones over Kempfield NW, Sugarloaf Hill, Henry’s, and Golden Wattle prospects along strike and depth,” Kastellorizos said.
The company’s recent reconnaissance efforts have led to additional RC drill holes being identified based on new outcropping barite zones.
Argent aims to confirm the Kempfield NW and Sugarloaf Hill prospects as potential volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) polymetallic-style mineralisation, while the Golden Wattle and Henry’s prospects will be tested for orogenic gold-style mineralisation.
Successful drilling may lead to increased tonnage and grade for the current Kempfield MRE, which boasts 63.7 million tonnes at 69.75 grams per tonne silver equivalent, totalling 142.8 million ounces (Moz) of silver equivalent. This includes 65.8Moz of silver, 125,192 ounces of gold, 207,402 tonnes of lead and 420,373 tonnes of zinc.
The Kempfield project lies on the Lachlan Fold Belt and is registered in NSW as a significant development.
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