Geopacific Resources starts drilling at Woodlark gold project in Milne Bay

DRILLING has started at the Woodlark gold project in Milne Bay, according to operator Geopacific Resources Ltd.
The company said in a market release last month that drilling contractor QED Exploration Drilling was on site and had started drilling.
It noted that the first phase of the programme would see a combination of over 20,000m of grade control near pit extension drilling executed by the end of this year and represents the first RC drilling campaign undertaken on Woodlark since 2018.
Initially, the drilling is centred around the Kulumadau pit and will be undertaken in advance of first ore mining to further delineate and refine the resource.
Chief executive officer Tim Richards said the commencement of an extensive drilling campaign would provide enhanced grade control for the initial mining plans for the high margin Woodlark gold project.
“There remains significant exploration potential at the project and the exploration drilling will focus primarily on defining near pit potential as well as defining other targets in our mining license area in due course,” he said.
“The ability to add further ore reserves will significantly enhance the metrics of this already high returning gold project.
“I look forward to updating the market on our exploration and development activities in coming periods.”
The company further stated that the longer term exploration activities would focus on the broader mining lease potential and is scheduled to commence once existing limits are fully defined.