Antipa Minerals Limited (ASX: AZY) has confirmed it intends to significantly expand the planned 2023 exploration activities at its 100%-owned, 877 sq. km Minyari Dome Project in Western Australia’s Paterson Province.
Based on the recently completed analysis of the H2 CY2022 Phase 2 greenfield drilling at Minyari Dome, Antipa is of the view that the two targets immediately north of Minyari plus the GEO-01 soil/air core target, combined with other high-priority regional targets worked up to drill-ready status, warrant a more aggressive exploration focus this year than previously envisaged.
This enlarged 2023 exploration programme at Minyari Dome is now set to comprise up to a 12,000 metre drill programme which will focus on new resource growth opportunities with the ability to enhance the project development opportunity. Drilling is expected to commence in May.
The Minyari Dome Project is located within 35km of Newcrest Mining’s Telfer gold-copper-silver mine and mineral processing facility and 54km along strike from Newcrest-Greatland Gold’s Havieron gold- copper development project.
As we worked through the results from last year’s H2 greenfield drilling in more detail, the scale of the growth opportunity in front of us became increasingly magnified. Put simply, this opportunity demanded increased investment, relative to what we previously planned for 2023 drilling at Minyari Dome,” Managing Director, Roger Mason, said.
“As a result, we are now set to significantly expand our 2023 drilling plans at Minyari Dome. This approach has the potential to materially change the scope of the Minyari Dome development and so we will pause our PFS programme until these results are received. We are convinced this strategy is the right one, given its potential to add substantial further value to the Minyari Dome Project through the course of this year. We also have the benefit of being able to carry forward almost all PFS work completed to date without significant need for refreshment upon recommencement.”
2023 Exploration Programme Overview
The Minyari Dome Project CY2023 Exploration Programme, encompasses the following principal growth orientated activities:
- Growth drilling programme consisting of up to 12,000m, including 6,000m of reverse circulation (RC), 5,000m of air core (AC) and 1,000m of diamond core drilling, planned to commence in May and designed to:
- Deliver a maiden Minyari North gold-copper resource;
- Test the revised Minyari Plunge gold-copper target position;
- Test the large-scale, 2022 AC defined, GEO-01 gold-copper target;
- Provide preliminary testing of several other targets including Chicane; and
- Test high-priority greenfield target areas.
- Soil geochemical sampling programme to identify new greenfield gold-copper targets; and
- Ongoing Minyari Dome Pre-feasibility Study workstreams mainly limited to desktop study components.
Consistent with previous years, the CY2023 exploration programme and budget will be subject to ongoing review based on results, field conditions, contractor availability and pricing, and other relevant matters.
