Red River Resources Limited (ASX:RVR) has begun a 22-hole drilling program at the Liontown Project, part of its Thalanga base metals operation in Queensland.
Liontown is Red River’s largest mineral resource at Thalanga, containing an estimated 3.6 million tonnes at 10% zinc equivalent across two deposits.
The company aims to complete the 5,000-metre diamond drilling program over the next six months, targeting three areas at Liontown: the Main Lens Uppers, the Decline Area and the Western Footwall Lens.
READ: Red River Resources hits record production of zinc, lead and copper at Thalanga
Red River managing director Mel Palancian said: “Our upcoming program at Liontown will provide us with a greater understanding of the deposit and its suitability as part of future production to extend the life of our Thalanga operations.
“The program is expected to take at least six months to complete and we will announce results from the program as they become available through the second half of the year.”
The two deposits, Liontown and Liontown East, are part of the same mineralised system which remains open along strike and at depth.
Drilling will initially focus on Liontown which has an inferred and indicated mineral resource of 2.038 million tonnes at 8.4% zinc equivalent.
READ: Red River Resources produces high quality concentrates from Far West ore
Red River has planned 14 holes with 40-metre by 40-metre spacing to infill the current resource at the Main Lens Uppers target, with all holes anticipated to intersect both the Liontown Main lens and the Carrington lens.
This data will include a geotechnical design assessment of conceptual mining as well as additional metallurgical test work.
Three holes will be drilled from the hanging wall at the Decline Area, orientated for geotechnical assessment.
Drilling will test for westward expansion of the Main Lens into the planned decline area, with all holes aiming to intercept hanging and footwall lenses.
The Western Footwall Lens will also be infilled, with four drill holes planned from the footwall on a 40-metre by 40-metre spacing.
READ: Red River Resources on track to commence production from Far West deposit
Red River produces copper, lead and zinc concentrate at Thalanga, starting operations in September 2017.
The company is focused on maximising returns by increasing plant throughput and extending mine life through increasing mineral resources and ore reserves at deposits currently in the mine plan (West 45, Far West and Waterloo).
This will be achieved by potentially converting mineral resources into ore reserves at Liontown and Orient, as well as by continuing exploration across the company’s growing pipeline of high-quality target.
