Blackthorn Resources kicks off infill and stepout drilling at Mumbwa copper project

Blackthorn Resources (ASX: BTR) has commenced the Phase 5 drilling program at its Mumbwa Project in Zambia following ground proofing of the planned drill hole locations.

The drilling is aiming to improve the understanding and confidence levels of the mineral resource at the project and add further value to an already substantial deposit.

Kitumba currently hosts an Inferred JORC Resource of 87 million tonnes at 0.94% copper, using a 0.5% cut-off.

Highlighting the prospectivity of the project, the new drilling will infill in proximity to the substantial 2008 hit of; 401 metres at a weighted grade of 0.98% copper from 62 metres.

Scott Lowe, managing director, said the company is "very pleased to resume management of the Mumbwa Project and to expedite further drilling in the Kitumba area.

"Confirmation that our Phase 5 drilling program has now commenced is another exciting step towards better defining the Kitumba mineral resource, as well as looking further afield to test some other highly ranked targets within the licence area.”

The program includes about 7,000 metres of cored drilling from a series of 14 holes over the Kitumba deposit. Two drilling rigs have mobilised to site and drilling operations have commenced. Double shift operations will begin in the near future.

Drilling will consist of seven infill holes designed to tighten the drill spacing over the deposit and seven stepout holes to test the down-dip extension of the mineral resource, which was considered ‘open’ at depth.

The company plans to continue drilling until the end of the year with analysis to be carried out as drill core samples become available. Planning is underway to allow drilling of some holes to continue during the wet season.

First assay results are expected in the fourth quarter of 2011 and Alfred H Knight Group have been commissioned to prepare and analyse the samples.

Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/18932/blackthorn-resources-kicks-off-infill-and-stepout-drilling-at-mumbwa-copper-project-18932.html