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Orion Minerals begins airborne electromagnetic survey at Prieska Zinc-Copper Project

Published: 12:25 03 Dec 2018 AEDT

project area
Orion recently discovered a satellite deposit at Prieska

Orion Minerals Ltd (ASX:ORN) (JSE:ORN) has commenced a major SkyTEMTM airborne electromagnetic (EM) survey over its flagship Prieska Zinc-Copper Project in South Africa’s Northern Cape region.

The EM survey is part of Orion’s near-mine exploration program at Prieska.

The intensification of near-mine exploration activities follows the successful completion of the Prieska Deep Sulphide Target resource drill-out and the recent discovery of a new satellite VMS deposit at the Ayoba Prospect, 5.3 kilometres south-west of the Prieska Project.

READ: Orion Minerals discovers copper-zinc bearing massive sulphide body in South Africa

Orion’s prospecting permits around the Prieska Project host a number of known zinc-copper deposits typical of mineralisation in a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) camp.

The near-mine area was the focus of an exploration boom in the 1970’s and early 1980’s following the discovery of the Prieska VMS deposit by Anglovaal in 1968.

During this period, four satellite deposits to the Prieska deposit were discovered and drilled, including the Annex and Kielder K1, K2 and K6 deposits.

Prieska Project and near-mine exploration area in the Areachap Belt, Northern Cape, South Africa

Orion managing director and CEO Errol Smart said: "Orion has a rare opportunity to enhance the value of its Northern Cape projects by simultaneously progressing both advanced and early-stage projects with the potential to move quickly up the value curve.

“The company’s primary focus is to continue the bankable feasibility study at the advanced Prieska Zinc-Copper Project, while in parallel, drill testing known nearby exploration opportunities with the potential to become satellite operations to our emerging Prieska production centre at Copperton.

“The recently announced Ayoba satellite discovery, which was made with the very first deep diamond drill hole completed as part of the near-mine exploration program, is a clear indication of the huge potential of this emerging VMS belt.”

SkyTEM electromagnetic survey

Electromagnetic geophysical methods have a proven discovery record in the Areachap Belt and specifically at Prieska.

The new survey will cover the Prieska Zinc-Copper deposit itself as well as five satellite deposits and their strike extensions, in order to confirm the geophysical signature of known mineralisation and identify potential new drilling targets.

Interestingly, the target area has not been covered by modern geophysics since the 1980’s, with the last combined airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey being conducted in 1969.

Orion Minerals awards trial mining contract for Prieska

Orion Minerals Ltd (ASX:ORN, JSE:ORN) CEO Errol Smart tells Proactive the company has awarded a trial mining contract for the Prieska Copper-Zinc Mine to Newrak Mining Group - an experienced South African contract mining company with 28 years of operating history. He adds that previous Prieska...

on 5/9/23