Alba Mineral Resources (ALBA ) has commenced Phase 2 of its underground diamond drilling programme at Clogau-St David’s following the successful 559m Phase 1 underground drilling programme completed in October 2020.
Phase 1 intersected, what Alba believes to be, the westerly 550-metre extension of the Clogau Main Lode, which has historically been the main source of Gold production at Clogau-St David’s Gold Mine.
In particular drill hole L002 (See Fig 1) intersected a quartz lode which returned a significant gold value of 1.79 g/t over a width of 0.25 metres.
Alba has interpreted this intersection as belonging to the Jack Williams Lode, thus representing a projected 550-metre extension to the Main Lode. The surface expression of which is marked by soil sample anomalies and illustrated in Figure 1.
Phase 2 underground drilling programme (labelled GMOW_UG001 to GMOW_UG012) is illustrated in Figure 1 with most holes to be drilled to the North, with three holes drilled to the South to test for a Southern lode structure.
The main focus of Phase 2 is to continue with the exploration and delineation of the Main Lode to the north.
Figure 1: Plan view of the Llechfraith Level, showing collar locations and traces for the 2021
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Alba’s Executive Chairman, George Frangeskides, commented: “We are delighted to be drilling underground again, following our successful Phase 1 underground drilling campaign which concluded last October.”
Phase 2 Underground Drilling Programme
This Phase 2 programme is scheduled to comprise 12 holes drilled from 3 platforms for a total of 1,460m.
Whilst the main focus of the programme is to continue with the exploration and delineation of the Main Lode to the North, three holes will also be drilled to the south to test for a Southern lode structure the surface expression of which is marked by soil sample anomalies.
Alba will undertake the programme employing its Kempe U3-9BQ Pneumatic drill machine.
Figure 2:3D rendition of the drill programme with the expected intercepts marked with yellow circles.
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Update on Phase 2 Surface Drilling
The commencement of the second phase of the surface drilling programme at the Clogau-St David’s Gold Mine commenced on 12 April 2021 and will consist of an 8-10 hole programme for around 2,000 metres in total.
This phase of drilling is targeting the 550m Main Lode extension indicated by the underground drilling last year (see the red dotted line in Figure 3).
Figure 3: Location of Phase 1 UG drillholes (L001-4 and L009-11), set against geology and 550-metre projected extension of Main Lode (red dotted line). Planned Phase 2 surface drill holes shown (JW001-9).
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JW002 intersected the Main Lode extension at 95m and the 710 Lode extension at 190m at about 40m below the Llechfraith Level. The continuity of the lodes at depth is very encouraging from the perspective of increasing possible resources in the future. Both lodes indicate a plunge toward the SW which is identical to the Llechfraith Lode drilled in Phase 1. The third Phase 2 hole, JW003, has now started drilling.
Initial intersections from the first two completed holes have been positive. Both holes (JW 001, final depth 240.3m, and JW 002, final depth 204.3m) intersected the projected lodes as predicted.
JW001 intersected the Main Lode extension at 34m and the Grandfathers Lode extension at 190m. The Grandfathers intersection indicates that this lode extends for at least 60m downdip. See Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 4: Diagram showing Alba’s updated 3D Model of the target Main Lode extension, including sections through GMOW_JW001 and GMOW_JW002. Approximate scales are given in yellow.
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Figure 5: Oblique view of the target Lode model, highlighting where GMOW_JW001 and GMOW_JW002 have intersected depth extensions of two key areas of production (Grandfathers and 7-10 Stopes respectively). Relative scales are given in yellow
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Figure 6: Photo of Main Lode extension in JW001, with a 0.99 m intercept at 33.78 m
[Source: Company]
Figure 7: Photo of Main Lode in JW002, with two intercepts split by Clogau Stone Dyke from 94.32 m.
[Source: Company]
George Added “This is the first time we have drilled simultaneously both from the surface and underground at Clogau-St David's. That is a measure of our determination to maximise the progress we make during this spring/summer field season towards proving up zones for future gold production."
View from Vox
More positive progress for Alba investors at Clogau following the spin out of assets based in Greenland.
Clearly most of the share price appreciation in ALBA shares during 2000 was driven by the successful drilling results achieved at the Clogau mine. Similar newsflow from the phase 2 drilling campaigns could reward shareholders equally, if not more in 2001.
It’s also the first time Alba has had cash resources to fund both surface and underground drilling programmes, which should increase the frequency of positive newsflow during 2001 and beyond.
Shares in ALBA have traded sidewards over the past two weeks with the shares reacting positively this week to the news of the spin out of assets based in Greenland.
Reasons to ALBA
Alba Mineral Resources is a well-diversified exploration and development company which owns and operates mining projects in Greenland, Wales and Ireland. Its strategy is to identify and secure undervalued assets with a diversified commodity mix where there is potential for discovering further unexploited resources alongside the existing mine site.
JORC Resources expected at Clogau
Despite losing field time to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alba said it is in a position to execute one of the most significant underground work programmes seen for several decades at its Clogau gold mine in Wales, just as the commodity is reaching all-time highs in value.