STUDY RESULT According to a scoping study released in December 2016, T3’s average production rate is expected to be 21 800 t/y of copper and 665 000 oz/y a of silver
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Aim-listed Metal Tiger has progressed prefeasibility work at the T3 copper project, in Botswana, which it holds in joint venture (JV) with ASX-listed Mod Resources.
Key highlights of progress made includes the T3 environmental management plan (EMP) that was expected to be lodged, which should allow for the earlier advancement of the next phase of drilling at T3, the companies noted in a statement last month.
High-priority drill targets, which include two induced polarisation (IP) geophysics anomalies 800 m north of T3 and the Zone 3 mineralisation below the T3 Resource, have also been identified.
Additionally, the companies plan to start an airborne electromagnetic geophysics survey soon to identify new conductors on the T3 Dome.
“We are very pleased to report that, following consultation, the Department of Environmental Affairs has agreed that an EMP will suffice for permitting further resource drilling at T3 and the drill testing of the various exciting targets in the wider T3 area,” Metal Tiger CEO Michael McNeilly noted in a statement last month.
He added that the decision was significant, as it should allow for drilling to resume sooner than would have been required if the JV had to conduct the more detailed studies required for an environmental impact statement for the drilling permits.
“Considering the required EMP public review period, we now expect the drilling to resume in July. “[Meanwhile,] work will continue on the T3 prefeasibility study (PFS), the airborne electromagnetic geophysics survey and . . . soil sampling programmes,” he said.
The companies also looked forward to reporting on the findings of the T20 soil programme in due course.
Planned activities for the next few months also include systematic drilling of the Zone 3 mineralised contact, below the T3 Resource, as well as finalising the metallurgical, mining and processing studies for the T3 PFS.
The T3 deposit, located on the Kalahari Copper Belt, in northern Botswana, was discovered in March 2016 when a reverse- circulation drill hole intersected 52 m at 2.0% copper and 32g/t silver from shallow depth.