The objective of the three phase drilling program is to get a more detailed interpretation of the mineralization in certain areas of Douay West. The first phase of the drill campaign will test the northwest and southeast extensions of the near surface mineralization in an attempt to further define a trend which could link to a second zone at shallow depth. The second and third phases of the drilling program will be infill focused in order to facilitate a conversion of mineralization at depth from the inferred to the indicated class. Phase 1 will comprise 1,500 metres of diamond drilling with the second and third phases comprising 3,900 metres for a total of 5,400 metres of additional drilling at Douay West. The second and third phases are anticipated to start sometime in 2015.
As part of the phase 1 drilling program the Company has elected to conduct geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations on both the overburden and rock units at Douay West. In addition to this work the Company has also initiated a geochemistry study. These studies are intended to help the Company better evaluate the merits of an open pit mining scenario against other alternatives. Additional study work for the further evaluation of a potential underground mining operation would likely be completed during phase 2 and 3 of the drill campaign.
The Company is also concurrently working towards completing a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for both an open pit and underground mining scenario at Douay West. The PEA is expected to be completed in Q1 of 2015. The results of the current drill program and its associated studies are not expected until sometime in Q1 2015 and therefore will not be a part of the PEA. Nevertheless, the results in combination with the PEA will help to form the basis of future project definition work that could lead to a pre-feasibility or feasibility level study at Douay West.
Chris Sharpe, VP Engineering, stated: "This drill campaign is a continuation of past investigations and represents another step forward to further understanding the mineralization and overall resource potential of the Douay West Zone. The results of this campaign will contribute to the overall detail of future studies and build on the PEA on which Aurvista is currently working. This campaign’s results will also be beneficial to prefeasibility and feasibility studies the company intends to complete in the future."
