Power Metal Resources plc said it had overcome bad weather by using smaller equipment to start diamond drilling at its Silver Peak project in British Columbia, Canada.
CONDITIONS
The company had expected to start a 500-metre confirmatory diamond core drill programme to test the Victoria vein.
However, poor weather has prevented the drilling rig and support equipment from being taken on the upgraded access, to the project and the first drilling pad.
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
Chief executive Paul Johnson said that the drill programme would now complete 120 metres resulting in a significant reduction in cost.
“Rather than not proceeding and delaying the drill programme entirely Power Metal’s local partners secured smaller man-portable drill equipment and this, together with associated support equipment has been installed at the project and the team have now commenced drilling.”
The portable core drill produces a 48mm core, similar to the larger rig, and will test multiple targets initially focused on the top of the lower Victoria portal.
The company aims to drill test at least 20 vein intersections in a six to eight-day programme dependent on the weather.
Hole depth is expected to be 6m (20 feet) and the grade of each core sample will be tested using a handheld X-ray fluorescence unit to obtain an estimate of silver grades prior to assay testing.