Vango Mining Ltd (ASX:VAN) will undertake extensive fieldwork during the 2021 season at Marymia Gold Project in the Mid-West region of Western Australia which will include a large resource expansion drilling campaign expected to begin in June.
The company will drill a minimum of 15,000 metres focusing on 11 priority open-pit targets that are not currently part of the project’s resource base.
This reverse circulation (RC) program is designed to add near-surface resources amenable to open pit mining as part of any future mining operation at the project.
Priority historic targets
The 11 priority open-pits - Apollo, Exocet, Ibis, Kookaburra, Parrot, Pigeon, Prickleys, Redfin, Rosella, Skyhawk and Speckled - have been rated and ranked in order of priority based on historic gold inventory and a review of historic drilling.
Skyhawk, Parrot and Apollo open pits have been assessed as the highest priority targets and the first phase of drilling is planned to begin at these targets.
The drilling has been designed with the flexibility to focus on specific targets dependent on results.
Progression of the drilling campaign through all four phases of planned drilling will also be dictated by results of the previous phases of drilling.
Defining open-pit resources
The company expects the drilling will enhance the understanding of the mineralised zones within the targeted open pits for the benefit of mine planning and for assessing funding requirements for the proposed standalone mining operation.
This campaign is also designed to deliver ‘critical mass’ to increase the mine life of a proposed future mining operation from Marymia’s resource base, specifically targeting an increase in total ounces to ensure that mill capacity of any future operation is maximised over the total mine life.
Trident–Marwest corridor
Drilling will also be undertaken at the north-eastern section of the Trident Deposit, the ‘Crown Jewels’ of the Marymia Project, in the 2021 drilling campaign.
This targeted drilling will be designed to identify further-high grade extensions of the area between the north-eastern sector of Trident and the southern extent of the Marwest target.
In addition, the company and its Ned’s Creek Farm-in JV partner Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR) have commenced an aeromagnetic survey and ground magnetic survey aimed at closing existing gaps in Lodestar’s database.
Upon completion of the surveys, Vango plans to finalise drilling plans for the Ned’s Creek and Contessa targets at the JV project area, for the next phase of drilling which is expected to start next month.
Marymia Gold Project showing the 11 priority open pits to be targeted in 2021 drilling campaign.
Looking forward
The company’s near-term objective is to expand the Marymia project’s high-grade resource base to support its plans to become a large gold mining and production company.
Vango expects to release an updated and expanded JORC 2012 resource for the Marymia Project, which currently sits at 10.38 million tonnes at 3 g/t gold for 1.02 million ounces, in the second half of 2021.