Perth-based, Western Australian-focused gold explorer Torque Metals Limited (ASX:TOR) has made strong progress with its first phase drilling campaign at the Paris Gold Project within the Boulder-Lefroy Fault Zone, Western Australia.
A total of 50 RC holes for 4,155m have so far been completed of which 927m drilled by a deeper capacity rig (av. 132m / hole) and remaining 3,228m via a shallower capacity rig (av.75m / hole).
The prospects so far drilled include: Observation (19 holes for 1,550m), Strauss (7 holes for 472m), HHH South (11 holes for 804m), Paris North (6 holes for 402m), HHH pit (3 holes for 308m), Harold’s Lode (2 holes for 355m) and Senators Shoot (2 holes for 264m). (Figure 1)
To date, 43 of the 50 holes (1,402 samples) have been submitted to the Bureau Veritas laboratory for analysis for gold and a range of other elements. The Company anticipates first assay results from the drilling campaign in early August.
Executive Chairman, Ian Finch, said the purpose of the RC drilling at these prospects is to better define the zones most likely to rapidly increase the project’s resource base. The project has an existing 32,700oz JORC compliant gold resource, most of which lies below and along strike from the existing HHH and Paris mines.
I am very pleased with the company’s progress with our first phase drilling at Paris, bearing in mind we only listed a little over two weeks ago and in light of the current labour shortages negatively impacting other drilling campaigns,” Mr Finch said.
“I look forward to providing further updates on what promises to be a very busy few months ahead for Torque as we continue our drilling campaign at Paris and then move on to high grade, drill ready targets at Bullfinch.”
A further 15 RC holes (890m) are planned at the Strauss prospect after which the rig is to be converted to AC to test the Marmaracs prospect (20 holes for ~ 960m), Lady Doris North prospect (5 holes for ~ 300m) and Lady Doris Far North (5 holes for ~310m) prospect.
The purpose of the AC drilling is to identify the best of the existing secondary targets that are to form an on going pipeline for additional resource enhancement.
Once the first phase of drilling at the Paris Project is completed, it is intended that a drilling programme be put in place for the high grade, drill ready targets at the Bullfinch Project, west of Southern Cross in Western Australia.
In addition, a compilation of all existing aero magnetics over the Paris Project is planned. Once that is in place, a broad spaced auger rig, soil geochemical survey over the project area is also envisaged.
