TG Metals closer to developer status as stockpile drilling gets underway at Van Uden

• Stockpile drilling to determine grade underway at TG Metals’ Van Uden project 
• Samples will be assessed for metallurgical parameters
• The updated resource is expected to be completed during first week of June 

Special Report: TG Metals has kicked off drilling using a sonic rig to sample four stockpiles at Van Uden as part of a program aimed at confirming gold grades and advancing metallurgical testwork.

The drill program, expected to take 10 days followed by a further four weeks of sample analysis, is testing two stockpile areas at the historical Dieman pit and another two at the Tasman pit. 

Preparations for an initial mining proposal are also in motion, while discussions with consultants regarding toll milling options in the region are also underway. 

TG Metals (ASX:TG6) says the update of the 5.378Mt resource is well advanced and expected to be finalised during the first week of June. 

Background on Van Uden 

Van Uden is on WA’s Forrestania Greenstone Belt, 90km east-northeast of Hyden and 120km south of Southern Cross. 

It is close to the Marvel Loch and Westonia – Edna May gold processing plants and is 130km from the company’s established Burmeister lithium deposit at the Lake Johnston project. 

The project consists of four granted mining leases, four granted exploration licences, one exploration licence application and two miscellaneous licences (for haul roads).

Chief executive officer David Selfe said development of the Van Uden project is progressing, concentrating on easy wins such as the treatment of historic stockpiles initially. 

“When the updated MRE is finalised, we can then move onto further development stages around exploiting in-pit gold mineralisation sources,” he said. 

“This is an exciting time for the company as we transition to being a mine developer, particularly at a time of high gold prices.

“The surface and shallow mineralisation at Van Uden together with access to major roads is a distinct advantage for rapid development.”

Watch: Striking gold at Van Uden

Resource update due early June

Past mining stockpiles from the Dieman and Tasman pits consist of mixed material types, mainly oxide and transitional at Tasman, and distinct oxide and laterite at Dieman. 

Initial processing is expected to focus on stockpiles, with subsequent evaluation of in-pit mining potential guided by analysis of the new resource. 

The Tasman and Dieman pits ended with mineralisation in the pit floors, which may present an opportunity for early in-pit production with a minimum of surface disturbance.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.