2021 SUMMARY OF SENTINEL IMAGERY IN THE PATERSON - PARTIAL ONLY.
PATERSON SENTINEL DATABASE TO c DEC 30.pdfUpdated
some areas to the most recent imagery (29th for 31st) in late December 2021.
There doesn't appear to have been any work since mid December on AZY related ground.
The PDF/ex spreadsheet hasn't been updated to show Wilki and IGO drilling that was missed earlier. Many of these sites are very subtle and would result in a lot of work to document with little added benefit.
Most drilling started in the March to May time frame with these time lapse images for areas of dense drilling giving a visual of what was done.
The time lapse images below are MONTHLY from May to December.
MINYARI/WACAOver the year I have attempted to follow the process from site preparation, to drilling, and finally rehabilitation with bags being removed etc. This is quite easy for areas such as GP01 to the east of WACA but becoming nigh on impossible in the guts of Minyari and Waca.
All will finally be revealed as the assays dribble in and get reported along with the collar details etc.
These results will determine, in part, whether more drilling takes place at current targets as well as some of the regional ones that haven't been visited by rigs yet.
CALIBRE/MAGNUM NORTH
Some 30% of the sites prepared in 2021 have not been drilled. Visuals and subsequent low assays is probably one (main?) reason for this in the SSE part of Calibre. Could be the same for the Magnum Nth sites though timing of the Christmas break may also be a factor for them.
Rimfire drilling is too wide spaced to do a very meaningful time lapse.
WINU NGAPAKARRAWhile not directly related to AZY drill results from 2021 probably have a synergistic impact on the Citadel JV.
Drilling may have begun before May but size constraints for this animation meant May-Dec would likely be acceptable.
Most prepared sites have probably been drilled though there is no guarantee. Too much drilling to spot individual holes with this summary covering broad areas.
The last announcement did mention some sterilisation drilling. What is sterilisation and what is extensional/exploration only Rio know.
- Joining Winu to Ngapakarra. The density of drilling to the immediate W and NW of the camp looks more like infill/extensional work than sterilisation - If that is the case and the open pit extends from Winu to Ng then the Exploration Camp is going to be moved at some point in time.
- Extensional drilling to the north of Winu Main. Again the density suggests they have been getting some positive results. The 3 slightly separated areas shown reflect the presence of sand dunes IMO. Drill density in Area A is less than the surrounds and may ultimately require infill. Will be interesting to see the assays for the southern most zone in 2.
- Sterilisation/closing off drilling to the west of Minyari Main?
- Sterilisation for a plant site vs a new target????
Would like to think Winu has grown significantly to the North, and East where it joins to Ngapakarra. Either/both or a string of pearls would represent an increase in the resource..
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The Calibre MRE may have "stalled" with the results released so far this year. IMO there may be a higher grade starter pit in the area where 2015 drilling focused which may attract enough attention to get a mine going there. Still need to take off 80m of cover to get to it and then transport 45+- Kms to a plant at Winu. Many considerations with Rio determining the sequence of events to get the most bang for their buck if they decide to mine. Fun to speculate but that's all it is. Patience.
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2022
Already given hints as to what is planned with the various project areas.
MINYARI/WACAFeed all assay results into a new MRE by late Q1 early Q2? If resource increases significantly then Scoping Study/PFS by early 2023??????
Probably both M and W at the same time.
Stand alone vs Toll treating at Telfer?
AZY do seem to want to "go it alone" which may be determined by the MRE size increase and early SS?
Both M & W will probably have open pit and underground components. Minyari is starting to look like there may be some larger bulk underground potential that is more in the realm of a major (NCM is rather obvious).
The north end of Minyari looks to be open down plunge but testing will require deep drilling (1000-1500+m). The southern surface expression of the plunging zone may also need more drilling. In between there are likely to be a few gaps but 2021 and previous drilling are probably enough to bring a/the? majority into the indicated category.
NCM hole 10001 is the only really long hole drilled grid west and gave a long zone with low grade that appears isolated. This may be a projection issue or real. If the latter then what potential does it hint at?
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Wider Minyari Dome has many targets some of which are close enough to the existing M/W zones they need to be defined to allow for any mine planning.
The scale of work at Citadel may determine what budget is available for this and any other work on the Minyari Dome.
Getting tired and will call it quits for now.