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Blackham Resources in visible gold find

Published: 08:50 27 Jul 2015 AEST

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Blackham Resources (ASX:BLK) has discovered visible gold in early drilling of the Golden Age Reef at its Matilda Project in Western Australia.

This intercept is 55 metres east of the previous underground mine workings and is feedstock for re-commissioning the Wiluna Gold Plant.   

Hole GAUD0003 intercepted 1.5 metres of visual gold within a 4.8 metre wide quartz vein with assays expected within three weeks.

Stage 1 of the 3,500 metre diamond drilling program at Golden Age is being carried out to increase the size and confidence in the existing high grade resource.

Golden Age is a free milling quartz reef that has produced 160,000 ounces of gold at 9 grams per tonne and the remaining resource is 600,000 tonnes at 6.7g/t for 125,000 ounces of gold.

Bryan Dixon, managing director, commented:

“We are very excited about the early success from our initial Golden Age drill program. The high grade Golden Age reef will be blended with the base load open pit Matilda Mine ore to increase the average grade of the mill feed.

“Golden Age is just one of numerous high grade quartz reefs in the immediate vicinity of the Wiluna Gold Plant. Golden Age is immediately accessible with established underground infrastructure that will allow mining to commence rapidly following the development decision.”


Recent Activity

Studies are in progress on costing and engineering work associated with the open pit mining areas.

During the June Quarter, high resolution photogrammetric aerial surveys were flown with a drone over Matilda and Galaxy to assist in the open pit mining studies.

Initial Pre-Feasibility mine designs have been prepared for the Matilda, Galaxy and Williamson open pits which will be refined once the geotech and metallurgy studies are completed.

Regent, Bulletin South and Happy Jack have had mining optimisations prepared.
Underground mining studies are progressing at Golden Age, East Lode, West Lode and Calvert.

Underground geotechnical work has also commenced on stope design parameters at Golden Age, East, West Lodes and Calvert.

Blackham currently has 3 drill rigs at the Matilda Gold Project to fast track drilling required to complete the Definitive Feasibility Study.

A review was conducted on the plant and metallurgy test work during the quarter to ensure the areas of focus for the PFS have been identified.

Proposals to complete the PFS plant refurbishment study have been received from a number of engineering firms. It is expected this work will be awarded this week and work will commence immediately.

In addition, a gas supply consultant has been appointed to review the cost of supplying gas to Blackham’s 12 megawatt power station via the existing spur line from the Goldfields Gas Pipeline.

Two diesel gensets with a combined power of 2.8MW have been serviced to provide power to the underground as well as pre development activities.


Analysis

Blackham's strategy is to focus on free-milling, open-pit and shallow underground targets from the Matilda Gold Project. Today's Golden Age Reef news will assist that cause.

Blackham is in the driver's seat with $9.9 million in cash and investments at June 2015; the $38.5M Orion Mine Finance deal signed; $8.5M in equity & debt received during the quarter and a $30 million undrawn project facility.

Mining at Matilda is on track to start in Q1 2016 and for first gold pour in Q2 2016.

Share Price Catalysts

- Initial Matilda assays expected this week;
- Golden Age assays expected in three weeks;
- PFS Mining study on track for completion by early September
- PFS metallurgical and refurbishment studies on track for completion by early September.
- Completion of Definitive Feasibility Study by Q4 2015.

 

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