Asiamet Resources is assessing going deeper with the proposed open pit at its Beruang Kanan Main (BKM) prospect in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, after recent drilling revealed more thick mineralisation at depth in the BK044 Zone.
The company says moderate to high-grade copper mineralisation extended more than 100 metres below the base of the conceptual open pit design as proposed in the preliminary economic assessment (PEA), although further exploration, including drilling, will be needed along strike and laterally to establish the continuity of this deeper domain.
This will determine the potential for extending the open-pit to capture this mineralisation.
The resource definition drilling program was undertaken as part of feasibility studies on the BKM copper deposit. It has highlighted excellent grade continuity within the deposit.
A total of 122 holes for 12480.9 metres of diamond core drilling have been completed and Asiamet expects further assay results will be received over the next month. Work has commenced on a mineral resource update.
One hole returned 37.1 metres from 3.4 metres @ 1.1% copper, including 17 metres from 5.5 metres @ 1.54% and 7 metres from 25.5 metres @ 1.35%; 5 metres from 100.5 metres @ 1.12%; 33 metres from 110.5 metres @ 1.11%, including 2 metres from 123.5 metres @ 2.44% and 11 metres from 131.5 metres @ 2.04%; 47 metres from 147.5 metres @ 0.64%, including 16 metres from 149.5 metres @ 1.32%; 19.35 metres from 204.5 metres @ 1.46%, including 11.35 metres from 212.5 metres @ 2.14%; and 5 metres from 229 metres @ 0.56%.
Another hole returned 34.5 metres from 145.5 metres @ 0.74%; another returned 18 metres from 13 metres @ 1.6%, including 3 metres from 15 metres @ 2.78% and 4 metres from 27 metres @ 2.83%; another 35 metres from 22 metres @ 0.75%, including 5 metres from 50 metres @ 1.34%; and another 20 metres from 86 metres @ 0.95%, including 6 metres from 87 metres @ 2.22%.
Asiamet’s CEO Peter Bird said, “Another significant milestone has been achieved with the completion of the BKM infill and expansion drilling program. BKM continues to impress as our confidence in the continuity and grade of copper mineralisation from north to south, and particularly with depth, increases.
“Recent drilling at BK044 Zone has yielded very encouraging results with broad intervals of high grade copper mineralization intersected in a deeper mineral domain extending well beyond the limits of the BKM PEA conceptual open-pit mine design.
“The potential for a deeper pit and longer mine life will be investigated as part of the ongoing feasibility study.
“The primary objective of this drilling campaign is the upgrading of inferred resources to higher confidence measured and indicated resources by completing this closely spaced grid-drilling program, and we are very pleased with the results to date.”
Asiamet