New World Resources Limited (ASX: NWC) has made a strong start to its maiden 2,500m diamond drilling programme at the high‐grade Antler Copper Deposit in Arizona, USA.
Six HQ‐sized diamond core holes have been completed to date, for a total of 1,252m; with massive‐sulphide mineralisation intersected in all six holes.
Managing Director/CEO, Mike Haynes, said the initial holes have been reasonably broadly‐spaced; generally intersecting the target horizon on 60‐80m‐spaced centres.
Mr Haynes said this approach has, to date, confirmed the lateral continuity of mineralisation over a strike length of 250m and to a depth of at least 250m.
Individual horizons of sulphide‐rich mineralisation of up to 8.2m thick have been intersected; with multiple horizons of massive sulphides intersected in most holes.
Further drilling: (i) along strike; (ii) at depth; and (iii) between recent holes, is planned to facilitate the delineation of robust JORC‐Code compliant Indicated Resources that can be used in mining studies to evaluate the potential to bring the Antler Deposit back into production in the near‐term.
New World has also reported that drilling has been suspended due to the COVID‐19 threat to its employees and contractors.
During the past week an increasing number of infections have been recorded in the local region.
Mr Haynes said that in light of this and recent changes in government directives, the company and its drilling contractor have mutually agreed to temporarily suspend drilling operations until health and safety risks are determined to be acceptable.