Aston Minerals launches new drill program, makes key Canada appointments
A now cashed up Aston Minerals (ASX: ASO) has launched a new drilling effort at the Edleston nickel project in Ontario as well as adding to its Canadian team.
In late July, Aston announced it had successfully closed a $11 million placement to bolster development of its nickel resource at Edleston.
Aston reported it had received strong demand for the new shares from international institutional investors.
Edleston is located about 60km south of the mining town of Timmins.
Diamond rig mobilised, appointments made
A diamond rig has been mobilised and has begun a 12,000m campaign at the B2, Bardwell and Hook zones of the project.
In addition, Corem, a metallurgical laboratory based in Quebec, which is staffed by metallurgical engineers particularly experienced in nickel processing with be working on the Edleston project, says Aston.
They also have extensive knowledge of metallurgical flowsheet development using modern techniques.
To assist with that flowsheet development, Aston has appointed Greg Lane as technical adviser.
Mr Lane is a metallurgist with more than 40 years’ experience.
He is chief technical officer at the Toronto office of Australian resources consultants, Ausenco.
Aston says Ausenco has extensive experience developing feasibility studies for nickel deposits similar to those at Edleston.
Looking to increase measured and indicated categories
The company’s deposit lies over a 6.5km strike zone which has undergone extensive serpentinisation, which is a type of hydration and metamorphic transition.
Aston managing director Russell Bradford said the company has spent the last month visiting the site, spending time with the geologists, and understanding where next drilling needs to be focused — and what metallurgical work is required.
“This current drilling program will seek to increase the measured and indicated category of our nickel resource as well as the size of the nickel resource,” he added.
“The drilling is also aimed at improving the resource grade at the high-grade zones intersected in the previous 28,000m drilling program.”
“With the recent raise being as successful as it was, we can allocate funds to all these workstreams using some of the best nickel consultants, metallurgical facilities, field work geologists and drillers in the industry, ” said Mr Bradford.