TSX-V-listed Giyani Metals has started a feasibility study field programme for its K.Hill manganese project, in Botswana, with the appointment of a drilling contractor, project management and geological services contract and their imminent mobilisation.
The 2020 field programme follows Giyani’s recent successful capital raising, which closed on September 18.
The objective of the infill drilling programme is to upgrade the current inferred mineral resources at K.Hill into the indicated mineral resource category, from which a CIM Code-compliant reserve could then be estimated.
The programme will comprise 90 holes and 2 700 m of reverse circulation drilling, as well as nine holes and 250 m of diamond core drilling.
The contract was awarded to Stewardship Drilling, who has previously worked with the likes of Rio Tinto, De Beers and the Paladin Group.
Stewardship is expected to have fully mobilised to site by mid-October, subject to the current Covid-19 regulations being maintained in Botswana.
The drilling contractor will be supported by the company’s project management and geological services consulting company Lambda Tau.
Giyani CEO Robin Birchall says the next step for the feasibility is to conduct in-fill drilling to upgrade the current inferred mineral resource to an indicated mineral resource.
“We have designed an operational programme that is both effective and economical, by taking advantage of reverse circulation drilling where possible. This data will strengthen our confidence of the optimum drilling interval across the K.Hill deposit and additional geotechnical work will enable us to produce an optimal pit-shell design.”