Key points
- URU Metals has requested final proposals from qualified diamond drilling contractors for its Zeb nickel project in Limpopo.
- Initial drilling will focus on higher-grade Zone 2 mineralization to build toward a maiden mineral resource estimate.
- Target 1 will be tested early as a priority for semi-massive to massive nickel, copper and platinum group element sulphides.
London-listed URU Metals has advanced the selection of a drilling contractor for its Zeb nickel project in Limpopo, South Africa, and is now completing the final commercial stage before making an appointment.
The step follows completion of a 3D Leapfrog geological model and drill planning earlier this month. According to the company, the drilling program was designed directly from that model, which means the contractor will be executing a plan already grounded in the project’s geology.
URU has requested final proposals from qualified diamond drilling contractors. It will choose a preferred contractor after reviewing commercial terms, rig availability, mobilization timing, technical capability and health and safety performance.
Zone 2 and Target 1 come first
Initial drilling will concentrate on the higher-grade Zone 2 mineralization. The objective, the company said, is to build toward a maiden mineral resource estimate for the project.
In addition, Target 1 will be tested early in the program. URU considers it a priority target for semi-massive to massive nickel, copper and platinum group element sulphides, the kind of mineralization that could materially change the project’s profile if confirmed.
The company intends to move to mobilization as soon as practical after the contractor is appointed. Moreover, the program will be phased and prioritized so that the holes with the greatest potential to advance the project are drilled first.
From model to data
“We have now converted the drill plan into a contractor-ready programme, and are in the final commercial stage of selecting the drilling team, with particular focus on capability, rig availability and mobilisation,” said URU exploration manager Richard Montjoie.
He added that the team is eager to get to site and start turning the geological model into new data.
Consequently, the coming weeks should bring a contractor appointment and a mobilization date. For a junior explorer, the transition from desktop modeling to physical drilling marks the point at which the market can begin to judge whether Zeb’s early promise holds up in the ground.
