Marmota has diamond drill spinning at Aurora Tank Gold Project

Marmota Ltd (ASX:MEU) (FRA:43M) has started its much-anticipated diamond drilling program at the Aurora Tank Gold Project in South Australia. This is primarily a production-focused program, designed to provide the necessary detail to advance the project to production. The July diamond drilling program, which is fully funded, will comprise 14 holes for a total of 1,000 metres with a maximum depth of 200 metres downhole and is expected to be completed in around a month. Advancing Aurora Tank to production Marmota chairman Colin Rose said: “We are delighted to get the long-awaited diamond drilling program underway. “This program is focused primarily on advancing Aurora Tank to production. “Marmota is also planning a separate RC program aimed at further exploration and growth, following the diamond program. “We are carrying out the diamond program first, as our priority is to get the necessary scoping/feasibility/final metallurgical studies completed as soon as possible.” Shares have been as much as 11.7% higher intra-day to 4.8 cents. Objectives of program The July 2021 diamond program is aimed at providing the following necessary details: Geotechnical - design of optimal pit walls at Aurora Tank; Bulk density measurements - required for completing resource estimation and scoping/feasibility studies; and Bulk samples - to enable final phase metallurgical testing across different weathering zones and different areas of the deposit, including the first diamond drilling in the high-grade NW flank. Progress at the site Marmota’s team has been on-site for a few weeks with the first self-bunded 10,000-litre fuel tank being installed on June 30, 2021. Sumps were prepared at all proposed diamond drill pads in readiness for the arrival of the diamond drilling rig and crew. According to the company, the sudden closure of state borders, due to COVID-19, posed some unexpected last-minute logistical challenges to the arrival of required equipment from interstate. The company’s focus Marmota is a South Australian mining exploration company, focused on gold, copper and uranium. The company’s gold exploration activities are centred on its large tenement holding in the highly prospective and significantly underexplored Gawler Craton near the Challenger Gold Mine in the Woomera Prohibited Defence Area.