Axiom Mining has received outstanding first results from a resource definition drilling program at the Isabel Nickel Project in Solomon Islands. The company has drilled nickel grades of up to 2% in the drilling carried out on San Jorge tenement.
The Isabel project is considered one of the largest nickel-laterite deposits in the Pacific region. Drilling is focused on San Jorge, which makes up 50% of the project. Axiom owns 80% of the 36sqkm San Jorge tenement with landowning tribes.
Highlights from results received to date are 10.3 metres from 4 metres @ 1.55% nickel, including 5.4 metres from 6.6 metres @ 2.0%; and 13.7 metres from 3 metres @ 1.37%, including 7.9 metres from 8.2 metres @ 1.56%.
Axiom has established an exploration camp at San Jorge Island. Skid-mounted lightweight drill rigs were set in place and drilling commenced during November. The initial drilling program comprises 2500 metres over 200 holes.
The objective of the drilling program is to validate the historical drilling by previous explorers and to identify the higher grade saprolite material at depths. Axiom aims to establish an initial JORC resource for the commencement of mining in 2017.
Axiom CEO Ryan Mount said, “We are off to a good start in this phase of project development, and are well on track to defining the extent of the high grade mineralisation and determining mining parameters. These excellent results, with saprolite grades up to 2% nickel, give us a high level of confidence in our ability to supply a premium product for potential customers.”
The remainder of the Isabel project comprises the Kolosori deposit. Axiom is awaiting a decision from the Solomon Islands Government regarding the re-application for the prospecting licence over this deposit.
Axiom recently appointed David Kinsman as chief financial officer and company secretary. He has a track record of establishing effective finance teams as well as an extensive background as a senior finance executive in multinational organisations, including 11 years overseeing major development projects with Boeing Australia Ltd.
Axiom Mining