Alba Mineral Resources said its underground drilling programme at Clogau-St David’s Gold Mine would be unaffected by recent Covid-19 restrictions imposed in Wales.
Wales will introduce a two-week ‘firebreak’ from 23 October to 9 November 2020 to help stop the pandemic.
However the mining and hydrocarbon company is on schedule to complete the first phase of bulk sampling, as well as start the first phase of regional surface trenching programme and the preparations for the surface drilling campaign before the end of 2020.
Alba reported that drill hole L002 has been drilled to 121.5 metres, heading north from the current workings on the Llechfraith Level.
Drill hole L003, located at the Grandfathers stope on the Llechfraith level, is currently being prepared for drilling.
Bulk sampling was progressing well, with the Jack Williams stope floor stripped back and stockpiled. Approximately eight tonnes of material has been gathered from build-up previous periods of mining.
A 280m length of pipeline running through Llechfraith level has been rehabilitated and tested. This will provide pressurised air to drill the next drill hole at a previously inaccessible target.
Alba said it would complete the rehabilitation of the remaining 300m of pipework during 2021.
Samples will be sent for assaying after the entire drilling programme has been completed.
The first bulk sample is being prepared for processing at a third-party facility in Cornwall.
The remaining bulk samples will either be processed at the same facility or by Alba after the company builds its bespoke pilot gold processing plant.
Alba still expects the pilot plant to be fully operational during the fourth quarter of 2020.
Executive chairman, George Frangeskides, said that the company had made “excellent progress”.
“The programme is scheduled to continue until the end of October, following which we will move into the formal assaying of all the drilled and sampled material, the start of the first phase of our regional surface trenching programme as well as preparations for the surface drilling campaign which we also hope to kick off next month.”
Alba Mineral Resources other interests lie in Greenland (graphite, ilmenite, iron ore, copper-cobalt-gold), Ireland (zinc,lead) and in Surrey (onshore oil).