Alford East Copper-Gold ISR Project, South Australia
The directors of Thor Mining Plc (“Thor”) (AIM, ASX: THR, OTCQB: THORF) are pleased to announce the commencement of drilling at Alford East Copper-Gold Project, SA.
Project highlights:
§ 2000m diamond drilling program has commenced,
§ This drilling program focuses on depth extension and structural delineation of the northern mineralised domains of the Alford East copper-gold deposit (Figure 1),
§ Thor Mining awarded A$300,000 from the South Australia Government under the Accelerated Discovery Initiative (ADI) which will be partially used for resource drilling,
§ Core and water samples will be collected for hydrometallurgical test work as part of the In Situ Recovery (ISR) assessment process.
Nicole Galloway Warland, Managing Director of Thor Mining, commented:
“Thor is excited about commencing its maiden drilling program at Alford East, where our geology teams’ new geological model strongly indicates new weathering boundaries opening up copper oxide mineralisation potential at depth and along strike.
At a time when the copper price is at decade highs, Thor is fast tracking the exploration and development of the Alford East copper project. We look forward to updating the marketing with drilling results in the coming weeks.
Thor have developed an educational, explanatory video on In Situ Recovery and how it will be utilised at our Alford East Copper Gold Project. ISR is an environmentally sustainable technique which reduces the impact of mining activities on the land, as well as mining costs associated with the extraction of ore. Thor is delighted to be at the forefront of the industry with regards to the implementation of this technology”.
The video can be found on the Thor website and Thor YouTube channel via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG_1ZGD0WIw
A copy of the Tenement and Prospect Location Plan may be viewed via the following link:
http://www.thormining.com/sites/thormining/media/maps/21-001-4-ae-mre-%E2%80%93-location.jpg
The Alford East Copper-Gold Project is located on EL6529, where Thor is earning up to 80% interest from unlisted Australian explorer Spencer Metals Pty Ltd, covering portions of EL6255 and EL6529 (Figure 1) (THR:ASX 23 November 2020).
The Alford East Project covers the northern extension the Alford Copper Belt, located on the Yorke Peninsula SA. The Alford Copper Belt is a semi coherent zone of copper-gold oxide mineralization, within a structurally controlled, north-south corridor consisting of deeply kaolinized and oxidized troughs within metamorphic units on the edge of the Tickera Granite (Figure 1), Gawler Craton, SA.
Based on historic drillhole information Thor completed an inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) (THR:ASX 27 January 2021):
§ 125.6Mt @ 0.14% Cu containing 177,000t of contained copper
§ 71, 500oz of contained gold
This MRE demonstrates the initial size of the oxide copper-gold opportunity with significant potential to grow the MRE along strike and at depth.
Drilling Program
This initial 2000m diamond drilling program focusses only on the northern portion of the Alford East copper gold deposit around the Netherleigh Park and AE5 mineralised domains.
Historic aircore drilling often stopped on blade refusal (silcrete horizon), with only a number of deeper diamond holes extending to fresh rock, hence this initial drilling program is designed to test the depth extent of the oxide mineralisation, adjacent and along strike of these mineralised diamond hole.
In addition, drill holes will be placed along strike of the Netherleigh Park and AE5 mineralised zones to confirm strike extent and continuity of the mineralization.
A new geological model comprising trough and ridge style of faulting has developed from 3D modelling of geology. This modelling has identified new weathering boundaries and highlighted key structures controlling and offsetting mineralisation (figure 2). Planned holes are hence designed to expand potential weathered zones where the top of fresh rock has yet to be intersected in drilling and validate the controlling mineralised structures.
The diamond drilling program will be carried out by GMP Exploration Drilling Pty Ltd.
During the drilling program groundwater analysis and core samples will be collected for hydrometallurgical and groundwater studies. The hydrometallurgical work will be undertaken by Mining and Process Solutions Pty Ltd (MPS) with water analysis by Groundwater Science Pty Ltd. The key objective of the initial metallurgical work is to develop the best lixiviant formulation for the oxide copper-gold mineralisation of Alford East deposit in the context of an ISR based approach. Understanding the ground water characteristics especially pH and chemical composition is essential for the lixiviant trials and any potential ISR development.
In conjunction with the technical assessment Thor will continue ongoing stakeholder and community engagement, and regulatory activities.
A plan view showing the Eight Mineralised Domains and an overview of the framework of the new weathering model at Netherleigh Park, may be viewed via the following link:
http://www.thormining.com/sites/thormining/media/Maps/ae-_-initial-drilling_np.jpg
Cross sections showing the interpreted trough-and-ridge style of faulting, with planned drilling may be viewed via the following link:
http://www.thormining.com/sites/thormining/media/maps/ae-_-initial-drilling_np—sections.jpg
