ASX-listed Southern Palladium says three rigs have now been mobilised on-site at the Bengwenyama platinum group metals (PGM) project, located on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex, in South Africa, as part of the Phase 1 drilling programme.

The first drill rig has started drilling and preparations are on track for the other two rigs to begin drilling within the week.

The Phase 1a programme will comprise a wider spaced drilling grid, consisting of an initial 31 drillholes. The aim of the programme is to confirm and refine the existing three-dimensional structural model for the shallower areas on the Eastern portion of the farm Eerstegeluk 327 KT.

This will be followed by the Phase 1b programme (32 drillholes), which will comprise infill drilling across a  narrower drilling grid.

Infill drilling is expected to improve the confidence in the grade distribution and is aimed at converting the targeted  shallow portion of Eerstegeluk 327 KT to a Joint Ore Reserves Committee 2012-compliant indicated mineral resource.

A successful resource upgrade will then form the basis of the forthcoming mining right application.

The drill rigs that have been deployed for the Phase 1 programme are equipped to drill the shallower areas where the depths are expected to range from about 60 m to 550 m, with an average depth of around 288 m.

The drill rigs in operation are an Atlas Copco CS-1500, a Delta 520 and a YWE D90R. The three drill rigs are capable of drilling 800 m, 180 m and 100 m respectively, and give Southern Palladium the requisite capabilities to complete Phase 1 drilling as planned.

All three rigs in operation are small track-mounted drill rigs, designed for increased manoeuvrability in confined spaces.

The Atlas Copco is the first to start drilling and is drilling drillhole E019 which has an estimated end-of-hole depth of 320 m.

Drillhole E060 and E062 will follow with expected depths of around 60 m and 130 m respectively.

Logistical arrangements are noted to be progressing well, with the primary network of equipment and workers now in place to support the Phase 1 drill programme.

Further upgrades have been completed to the on-site building, which will serve as the exploration site office and drilling laydown area, with the water supply, backup electrical supply, office Wifi and core logging and cutting facilities now in place.

The geological team is on the property to start receiving the drill core.

To initiate the Phase 1b programme, two additional drill rigs will be added to the site once the first three rigs are up and running.

“The commencement of Phase 1 drilling marks a major milestone for the Bengwenyama project, and we are looking forward to receiving the first core trays at our core logging facility to prepare samples for assaying,” says MD Johan Odendaal.

He adds that key project operations being set up in one central location will allow for the short-distance transport of core, and direct communications between the on-site operational staff and management team in Johannesburg and Sydney.

“With the introduction of a further two drilling rigs, we are confident of achieving our key project benchmarks within the original time frame,” he highlights.