Marula Mining, an African-focused mining and development company, has revealed further developments at the Blesberg Lithium and Tantalum Mine in South Africa
Marula Mining has appointed PDS Drilling to carry out the two-phase resource drilling programme. (Image source: Marula Mining)
In the first of two recent announcements, the company has indicated that the board of directors has approved an approx. US$1.35mn resource drilling exploration and mine planning programme at the site. This will be funded by Q Global Mining, a subsidiary of Q Global Commodities, with the cost of the programme to be offset against subscription funds to be received from Q Global (pending the approval of the conditional subscription agreement and Rule 9 waiver announced earlier in the year).
The scope of work for the programme includes:
• Airborne geophysics study across the Blesberg prospecting license and new license areas under consideration
• 2,900 m, 38 hole diamond drilling programme
• Exploration trenching programme
• Geological modelling and JORC Code 2012 compliant resource statement and report
• Open pit mine design study and initial mining works programme
• Slope stability, groundwater and geohydrology studies
• Environmental management studies
• Discounted cashflow analyses and competent person reports.
Marula closely followed this announcement by revealing the appointment and mobilisation to the site of South African drilling contractor, PDS Africa (PDS Drilling).
The experienced contractor – which has provided services and support for mining companies across southern African since 2012 – has now commenced the 2,900 m resource drilling programme. Its drilling rig and associated drilling equipment (along with personnel) have all been mobilised to Blesberg and drilling of the first hole is now underway. The two-phase resource drilling programme is expected to be completed by PDS Drilling within six months.
Jason Brewer, Marula Mining PLC CEO, remarked, “PDS Drilling have a great track record in southern Africa and the team at Blesberg are looking forward to working with them as they progress the planned 38-hole and 2,900 m diamond drilling programme over the next six months.
“We are pleased to see that this resource drilling programme has now commenced and have been impressed at how PDS Drilling have been quick and efficient to now start this drilling work on site.
“This resource drilling programme is aimed at defining a maiden JORC resource for Blesberg and to be the basis of the initial hard rock open pit mining plan that is to be developed under the broader resource drilling exploration and mine planning programme that is now underway.
“I look forward to updating shareholders on the ongoing status of the drilling programme and the activities that PDS Drilling will be completing on site.”
The Blesberg site is certainly a spot of much activity as it was only recently that Marula Mining added new mobile mining equipment courtesy of Bell Equipment.