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- Specialised underground Bazooka rig has been mobilised to historic high-grade Orleans mine
- Underground diamond drilling scheduled to commence mid next week
- Program comprises up to 15 underground diamond core holes designed to test extensions of the Orleans vein
- Focus on interpreted high-grade positions adjacent to historic stope
Nelson Resources (ASX: NES) is preparing to commence drilling next week with the Bazooka diamond rig mobilised to site at the historic high-grade Orleans mine within the Gold Point gold-silver project in Nevada.
The mobilisation of the specialised rig follows successful rehabilitation of the upper levels of the Orleans mine, establishment of underground drill platforms and completion of the company’s initial short-hole program. Preparations have been undertaken with Nevada Rand LLC, the appointed underground drilling contractor.
Nelson plans to complete up to 15 diamond core holes from underground positions using the Bazooka drill rig. The program is designed to test extensions of the principal Orleans hematite-quartz breccia vein fault up to approximately 40m beyond existing workings.
It will also target interpreted high-grade remnant and un-mined positions adjacent to historic stopes and evaluate the interpreted vein position in the approximately 70m of untested up-dip extent between the 400-foot and 150-foot levels.
Systematic underground channel sampling has confirmed high-grade gold-silver mineralisation on multiple levels of the Orleans Mine. Key previously reported results include 113.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 119 g/t silver over 1.83m – the highest gold grade returned from Nelson’s underground channel sampling to date;
“Mobilisation of the Bazooka drill rig marks the start of the next important phase of underground exploration at the high-grade Orleans mine. The systematic channel sampling has given us confidence that Orleans hosts a broader, structurally controlled vein system rather than isolated high-grade occurrences,” non-executive chairman, Gernot Abl, said.
“With high-grade gold and silver now confirmed on multiple levels, the diamond drilling program is designed to test extensions beyond existing workings and priority positions adjacent to historic stopes.
“This work, together with the ongoing metallurgical characterisation of remnant material, is providing the technical foundation for any future evaluation of the system.”
Nelson has executed an agreement to earn up to a 90% interest in the Gold Point project.
Reported pre-WWII production at Gold Point is approximately 75,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 20 to 30 g/t, with significant silver production.
The project includes more than five km of underground workings across five historical mines, providing direct access to remnant mineralisation and supporting an exploration strategy that combines underground mapping, sampling and drilling with district-scale surface work.
NES steady at 0.2¢. Mkt cap $5.569M.
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