KEY POINTS
- Arkadian will begin detailed mapping and systematic sampling at Clogau.
- New underground access opens the historically important Jack Williams stope.
- Exploration data will help determine the strongest targets for the next phase.
Arkadian Strategic Metals is moving into the next phase of exploration at the historic Clogau gold mine in Wales, shifting its focus from blasting activities to detailed geological investigation and data gathering.
The company is preparing to conduct detailed geological mapping and systematic sampling after completing the installation of ladders and intermediate access platforms that provide a safer, staged route into the Jack Williams stope area.
The newly installed access route connects the Tyn y Cornel level to the Jack Williams stope and covers an approximately 12-metre vertical section through existing mine workings.
The route will allow Arkadian’s geological team to enter the area, inspect the underground workings and collect detailed geological information and samples.
The Jack Williams stope is particularly significant because it sits at the junction of the Tyn y Cornel adit and the main lode, the quartz-vein structure that hosted much of Clogau’s historic gold mining.
Historical records indicate that mining along the main lode extended about 300 metres eastwards from the Jack Williams stope to the Bryntirion Fault, with another 150 metres or more worked within the St David’s mine area.
Data to guide next exploration phase
Arkadian said the information gathered from the Jack Williams area will contribute to a broader technical review of the mine.
The company is taking an evidence-based approach because gold mineralisation at Clogau is known to be highly variable and occurs in nuggety concentrations, making exploration and resource assessment particularly challenging.
The geological team will compare findings from the newly accessed area with information previously obtained from Level 5 and other priority sections of the mine.
The results are expected to help Arkadian identify the most promising targets for the next stage of exploration.
The main lode remains a major exploration target because it was responsible for a substantial portion of Clogau’s historical gold production.
Arkadian said the Jack Williams stope was identified as a priority area through earlier drilling and geological modelling.
Executive Chairman George Frangeskides said the company would continue to follow geological evidence while assessing different parts of the mine.
He described the completion of the new access route as an important step that would allow the company to investigate a historically significant section of the main lode. With underground access now improved, Arkadian is moving towards collecting more detailed geological data rather than relying solely on previous exploration results.
The company expects the mapping and sampling programme to strengthen its understanding of the mine’s geology and provide a clearer basis for deciding where further exploration should be concentrated.
The work forms part of Arkadian’s wider effort to evaluate the long-term potential of the Clogau-St David’s gold mine.
