(Alliance News) - Empire Metals Ltd on Monday said results of a soil geochemistry programme at the Eclipse Gold Project located 55 kilometres north-east of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia identified two new centres of gold-in-soil anomalies within the project area.
The exploration and development firm stated that one centre lies 1.5 kilometres north of Eclipse with dimensions of 200 metres by 75 metres, and aligns with a distinct magnetic offset. The second represents a small high-grade body at the western edge of the licence, with visible quartz breccia in a sandstone, it added.
However, the company said drilling at the Eclipse project has been delayed due to a combination of extremely high levels of activity in the Kalgoorlie gold fields as well as travel restrictions currently in place between states in Australia as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Much of the workforce in the Western Australian gold industry relies on labour from other regions in the country. The company has been advised that the drill rig is on standby and work should commence shortly," Empire Metals said.
This delay comes after the company said in September that it would commence drilling at Eclipse on September 28.
Turning back to the newly-identified targets, Empire Metals stated it is, together with its consultants in Australia, considering a tighter-spaced soils grid and detailed mapping at these locations before committing to drilling the new targets.
"It is reassuring to receive the results of the initial soils surveys which confirms the current drill targets at Eclipse and Houdini, but which has also identified two new targets. It is likely we will follow these new sites up with more detailed soils grids before committing to drilling. Regarding our drill programme, it's frustrating to be experiencing these delays at this early stage but we are fortunate to have secured a drill rig during what is a mini-boom period for exploration in Western Australia, and we look forward to providing an update on the drilling shortly," said Chief Executive Mike Struthers.
Shares in Empire Metals were trading 8.4% lower at 2.98 pence each midday Monday in London.
By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com
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Empire Metals (EEE)