Talisman Mining Limited (ASX: TLM) is preparing to embark on its 2023 drilling campaign at its 100%- owned Lachlan Copper-Gold Project in NSW.
Drilling will commence shortly at the Bonzer VTEM Anomaly, being the first target tested in what is expected to be the largest and most important drill campaign undertaken to date at the company’s Central Lachlan Project.
The upcoming drilling will systematically test a series of highly prospective conductive and gravity high anomalies identified from the regional-scale VTEM Max Airborne Electro-magnetic (AEM) and FALCON Airborne Gravity Gradiometry (AGG) geophysical surveys conducted across the Central Lachlan Project as part of Talisman’s 2022 exploration programmes.
This phase of drilling represents the first test of the geophysical targets generated from the 2022 AEM and AGG surveys and will provide an important proof-of-concept of the company’s strategy of fast-tracking exploration activities by utilising newly-acquired, high-quality regional datasets to target areas most likely to return a new mineral discovery.
The Bonzer VTEM Anomaly, located to the north-east of the Kaolin Shaft Gold Prospect in a known mineralised zone, is a concealed highly conductive anomaly identified from Talisman’s 2022 regional AEM survey.
Talisman has received the required regulatory approvals for nine of the 12 target areas from the relevant NSW Government authorities and anticipates receiving the remaining approvals in due course, allowing it to progress drilling sequentially across all of the planned areas. Regulatory approvals have been planned and submitted based on drilling success in order to allow immediate follow-up of positive drill results.
We are very excited to announce the re-commencement of drilling at our Central Lachlan Project after the frustrating delays caused by the unprecedented weather events of 2022 in the central west of NSW,” CEO, Shaun Vokes, said.
“The team has done a fantastic job of working up a compelling pipeline of drill-ready, highly prospective gold and base metals targets that we will systematically test over the coming months.
“I anticipate that we will have a steady stream of news flow for 2023 as we work through the currently identified portfolio of targets whilst in parallel progressing ground-based geophysical and geochemical surveys designed to refine and add further targets for testing in the second half of the year.
“I am confident that the methodical process we are following and the work we are currently undertaking stands us in good stead to deliver a significant new discovery for the company and our shareholders.”
Ground Geophysical Surveys
Talisman is also pleased to advise that a campaign of ground geophysical surveys postponed in the last quarter of 2022 due to persistent inclement weather has now resumed, with experienced NSW geophysical service provider Fender Geophysics mobilising crews to Talisman’s projects in mid-January.
Interpretation of airborne geophysical survey data by Talisman’s geologists and consultants has identified multiple prospect areas of geological interest due to the presence of structural features or broad anomalism. Ground geophysical surveyscare focused on delineating drill-ready conductive or chargeable anomalies at these prospect areas potentially indicative of base metal sulphide mineralisation.
The survey campaign will commence with Fender conducting a ground moving-loop electromagnetic (MLEM) survey across areas of structural complexity and historic base metal anomalism on Exploration Licence 8615 (EL8615). This initial survey area on EL8615 will be followed by a mix of further MLEM surveys and Pole-Dipole Induced Polarisation (PDIP) survey lines where appropriate for the prospect characteristics and geological setting.
This geophysical survey campaign is intended to rapidly progress prospective or conceptual prospect areas to drill-ready targets and further enhances Talisman’s ongoing pipeline of highly prospective targets.
The styles of survey being utilised will allow Talisman to quickly and comprehensively assess prospect areas for the presence of metallic sulphides related to base or precious metal mineralisation and focus on prospects with the highest chance of economic return.
Additionally, the surveys will enhance structural understanding of sub-surface geology and deliver higher resolution datasets to combine with regional airborne surveys, in order to provide a detailed geological interpretation of Talisman’s tenure portfolio.
Talisman looks forward to completing this program of ground geophysical surveys and utilising the datasets to identify further walk-up drill targets for a second phase of drilling later in 2023.
