Australian miner to start drilling at McDermitt lithium prospect in Oregon once fire risk eases
Jindalee Lithium and US its subsidiary HiTech Minerals has secured all the major approvals required for a Phase 1 drill programme at the McDermitt lithium project, in Oregon.
The companies’ exploration plan of operations provides for a staged drilling programme of up to 168 drill sites at McDermitt, of which Phase 1 will comprise up to 100 drill sites.
HiTech has contracted Forged Drilling Group to start in September, subject to the current high fire risk easing and the issue of a fire waiver, since Oregon is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record this year, with more than two-million acres having burned and multiple large fires still being active across the State.
The Phase 1 drill programme will involve reverse circulation and core infill drilling targeting the central part of the deposit within the McDermitt prefeasibility study mine design, which is aimed at upgrading the resource confidence and provides fresh samples for geotechnical studies and metallurgical testwork. The company will also be collecting hydrogeological data.
Jindalee confirms that mobilisation planning to site is well progressing with site preparation works expected to start soon ahead of the drilling. The US team has developed detailed risk management plans for the drill programme, including staging water trucks on site to provide water for drilling, dust suppression and for emergency fire control.
Jindalee expects HiTech to report some of the first drill results from the programme in the December quarter.
This data will help inform the McDermitt feasibility study and provide other data that is essential to project planning.