MINEX Forum

Tag: drilling

  • Avrupa Minerals Regains Full Control of Sesmarias Project in Portugal

    Avrupa Minerals Regains Full Control of Sesmarias Project in Portugal

    Avrupa Minerals is reaffirming its commitment to the Sesmarias project in Portugal, even as it continues to expand its Finnish exploration portfolio. Sesmarias, the company’s flagship discovery since 2014, has seen significant progress through multiple joint ventures and self-funded efforts. Most recently, Sandfire MATSA supported exploration from 2020 to 2025, yielding impressive high-grade intercepts and expanding the project’s geological understanding.

    Despite these advancements, the project did not meet Sandfire MATSA’s internal criteria, leading to Avrupa regaining 100% ownership. With complex geology and promising mineralization—including intercepts like 26.95 meters @ 2.18% Cu and 28.60 meters @ 1.68% Cu—the company is now focused on securing a new strategic partner to advance towards a potential mining decision.

  • Beogradska Elektrana Plans Investment in Geothermal Energy Exploration

    Beogradska Elektrana Plans Investment in Geothermal Energy Exploration

    The public utility company Beogradska Elektrana is now planning to invest in the drilling of a research and exploratory well to evaluate the feasibility of supplying geothermal energy to its geothermal heating plant in Batajnica.

    This decision comes after the presentation of the results of a study done by the Faculty of Mining and Geology that identified three high-potential sites for geothermal heating – Batajnica, Borca, and Dunav. Each of these areas has the potential to support between 5 to 20 MW of heating capacity. The heating plants identified in this study align with the results of a similar study done in 2023, although the more recent study proposes a shorter list of potential sites for development.

    The study was done based on geological data collected through research, analysis of archival materials, and recorded data of operating parameters of the heating plants.

    During the discussion, it was concluded that the exploitation of geothermal energy at the Batajnica heating plant has the potential to substitute more than 90% of the annual amount of fossil fuel-based energy generated in this heating plant. Thus, Vanja Vukic, Director of Beogradska Elektrana, stated that the company now plans to invest in exploratory drilling to confirm the predicted parameters for geothermal heating capacity.

    The plan is for the drilling of the exploration well to start this year, with the aim of utilizing heat from the well for the 2025/2026 heating season.

    Serbia currently has a single operation geothermal heating plant in Bogatic, which started construction in 2018 and became operational a year after.

  • Pan Global Resources posts Honda and Zarcita drill results, Spain

    Pan Global Resources posts Honda and Zarcita drill results, Spain

    Both targets are located 4km north of the La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery where ongoing drilling is extending mineralization at Romana West. Three follow-up drill holes have been completed at the Cañada Honda copper-gold target and an additional 13 drill holes have been completed at the Zarcita copper target.

    “The follow-up drilling at Cañada Honda confirms copper-gold mineralization coincident with a gravity anomaly, and extends the copper-gold mineralization from surface to 600m down-dip where it remains wide open. The new results highlight additional gold potential in the hanging wall. The drilling is at the eastern end of a 2km long east-west gravity target, indicating potential for the mineralization to significantly expand, making this a compelling, high priority target for additional drilling,” said Tim Moody, president & CEO.

    Currently, drilling at Escacena is focused along the highly prospective western extension (Romana West) of the La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery. In addition to the 12 geophysical targets that are being sequentially prioritized for drill testing, exploration on the 5,760-hectare Escacena Project continues to identify new drill targets. Initial assay results from the first set of drill holes at Romana West are expected soon.

    Cañada Honda Highlights – New drill hole results include drill hole CHD05 that returned 20 metres at 0.5% copper, 0.8 g/t gold, 1.9 g/t silver, including 5.1 metres at 1.3% copper, 0.5 g/t gold, 3.9 g/t silver (reported July 4, 2023); and new results including 2 metres at 1.6 g/t gold.

    CHD06 returned 7 metres at 0.6% Cu, 0.8 g/t Au, 6.5 g/t Ag, including 3 metres at 1.1 g/t Au, 5.5 g/t Ag. CHD07 returned 5 metres at 1.1 g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 2.3 g/t Ag.

    Surface rock samples ranged  up to 9g/t gold. There are new untested DHEM conductor anomalies

    The follow-up drill program included holes CHD05, CHD06 and CHD07. Drill hole CHD05, testing 150 metres down-dip from previous drill hole CHD04 and approximately 330 metres down-dip from a historical mine tunnel, confirmed copper-gold mineralization coincident with the targeted gravity anomaly. CHD06, located 100m east of CHD05, intersected copper-gold mineralization coincident with a DHEM target. Hole CHD07 tested a resistivity low anomaly 190 metres down-dip from CHD05. Each of the drill holes also intersected additional gold mineralization in the hanging wall.

    DHEM in holes CHD06 and CHD07 confirmed new off-hole conductor anomalies for future drilling to test the potential for stronger sulphide mineralization.

    Anomalous gold assays from 28 rock grab samples at Cañada Honda indicate a gold anomaly extending 200 metres west of the historical mine tunnel and up-dip from the recent drilling, with several samples reporting >0.1 g/t Au up to 9.0 g/t Au.

    “The recent exploration drilling and mapping at Zarcita has highlighted a 2.1km long trend with anomalous copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver. The highest potential remains centered on the historical Zarcita mine workings where drilling has intersected narrow intervals of higher-grade copper within a wider zone of stockwork and alteration. While untested down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) conductors, gravity and IP anomalies define prospective targets for future campaigns at Zarcita, the Romana West and Cañada Honda targets are key near-term priorities,” said Tim Moody, president & CEO.

    New Zarcita drill hole results include drill hole ZAD05 that intersected copper mineralization from surface, including 14.45 metres at 0.2% copper before entering a 10.5-metre assumed historical mine cavity. ZAD06 returned 5.5 metres at 0.7% Cu from 106.2 metres, including 1.85 metres at 1.6% Cu, 0.15 g/t Au, 2.4 g/t Ag.

    The most promising results are from a 600-metre section of the 2.1km trend, coincident with the Zarcita mine workings. This includes thin bands of semi-massive and massive sulphide intervals within a wider zone of stockwork veining and chlorite-sericite alteration. DHEM in holes ZAD01 and ZAD05 identified untested off-hole and below-hole anomalies, representing potential nearby stronger sulphide mineralization.

    The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Escacena is located near operating mines at Las Cruces and Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcóllar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage with construction anticipated to start in 2023. The Escacena Project hosts the La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery and a number of other prospective targets, including, Romana West, Cañada Honda, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, Romana North, and San Pablo.

  • Turkmen hydrogeologists completed drilling work by 120%

    Turkmen hydrogeologists completed drilling work by 120%

    According to the results of the first half of 2023, specialists of the Dashoguz hydrogeological expedition of the State Corporation “Turkmengeology” completed the drilling plan by 120%. This was reported by the online edition “Turkmenistan: Golden Age”.

    Specialists carry out work to search for underground aquifers, clarify reserves, study the structure, quality and chemical composition, analyze groundwater and carry out geoecological images.

    Water quality was studied in Agzybirlik, Ak Altyn, Täze Zaman, Gyzyl takyr, Ak bugdaý geneshliks of Akdepe etrap, Guwanç Atamedow of Boldumsaz etrap. The enterprise provided the Zähmet geneshlik of Akdepe etrap with drinking water. Work is being carried out in different directions along the Altyn Asyr Lake and in the territory adjacent to the reservoir.

  • Velocity agrees option to buy 75% of copper-gold project in Bulgaria

    Velocity agrees option to buy 75% of copper-gold project in Bulgaria

    August 9 (SeeNews) – Canada’s Velocity Minerals said on Wednesday that it agreed with Bulgarian company Zelenrok, a wholly-owned unit of Australia’s Raiden Resources, to receive an exclusive option for the purchase of 75% interest in the Kalabak gold and copper project in Bulgaria.

    The option for the acquisition is conditional on Velocity completing a total of 5,000 m drilling in the next five years and delivering an inferred mineral resource estimate for the property, the Canadian company said in a bourse filing. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

    Raiden Resources will retain the remaining 25% interest in the project should Velocity decide to exercise the option.

    The Kalabak project is located in southeastern Bulgaria, close to Velocity’s Rozino gold deposit and the Ada Tepe gold mine owned by Dundee Precious Metals. The site has potential for epithermal gold-silver and porphyry copper-gold deposits, Velocity said.

    Geochemical screening as part of the site’s planned exploration is set to be completed this year, with drill testing of targets slated for 2024.

    In April, Velocity received approval from Canada’s TSX Venture Exchange for an amended binding agreement with Zelenrok to purchase in two stages up to 75% of the Zlatusha gold and copper project in Bulgaria.

    Eastern Europe-focused Velocity Minerals owns 70% interest in each of the Tintyava, Momchil and Nadezhda properties as well as 100% in the Iglika property in southeastern Bulgaria.

  • Adriatic Metals proposes $30 million placing to fund exploration

    Adriatic Metals proposes $30 million placing to fund exploration

    Adriatic Metals PLC on Monday announced it intends to conduct a placing to raise $30.0 million to fund an expanded exploration programme at the Rupice and Rupice Northwest deposits in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

    Adriatic Metals is a precious and base metals explorer and developer that owns the Vares silver project in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Raska zinc deposit in Serbia. Shares in the firm closed down 1.7% at 169.40 pence on Monday in London.

    Monday’s placing price of £1.70 per share – or A$3.30 per CHESS depositary interest, representing such shares – represents a discount of 5.1% to the company’s average price share in the last 10 days on the Australian Securities Exchange.

    The total number of placing securities is expected to represent approximately 5.0% of the company’s existing share capital.

    Adriatic Metals said the proceeds of the placing will fund an expanded and accelerated exploration programme at Rupice and Rupice Northwest, including an additional 40,000 metres of drilling, and associated facilities and equipment. It will also contribute to the general working capital associated with exploration, as well as growth opportunities, general corporate purposes and fees.

    ‘Rupice and Rupice Northwest remain open and there are numerous regional targets such as Droskovac, SP1 and SP2 that have exciting prospects. We believe this exploration programme will deliver impactful results by more aggressively testing priority targets across our emerging high-grade polymetallic district,’ said Chief Executive Paul Cronin.