Sydney, Australia (ABN Newswire) -
Argent Minerals Ltd. (ASX:ARD) (Argent, Argent Minerals or the Company) is pleased to announce an expansion of its technical capabilities as the Company prepares to drill test the Kempfield Polymetallic Project for high grade zinc, lead, silver and gold.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Argent expands its technical capabilities with two key technical appointments as the Company prepares to drill test for high grade base and precious metals at Kempfield
- Expanded role of Professor Ross Large/Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits (CODES) in Kempfield Polymetallic Project
- Todd McGilvray appointed as Exploration Manager - track record in high grade base and precious metal deposit discovery, including an additional 22 million tonnes at MMG's Rosebery deposit in Tasmania
The existing relationship with the Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits (CODES) and Professor Ross Large has been expanded with the addition of a new research and development (R&D) initiative, and Mr. Todd McGilvray has been appointed to lead the Company's exploration effort at Kempfield and West Wyalong.
Argent Managing Director David Busch said, "Structured as a collaborative R&D project, the expanded CODES role will provide Argent with access to the very latest techniques and analytical facilities for the targeting of high grade volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralisation. CODES is arguably the preeminent authority in VMS deposits in Australia, and has already provided Argent with valuable insight to the potential processes that formed the Kempfield deposit. Being able to understand and map the current geology of any deposit is key to efficient discovery, especially for the style of high grade zinc/lead mineralisation that the Company is targeting at Kempfield.
"Utilising both new and existing drill core samples, the CODES R&D project is expected to take Argent's understanding of the Kempfield deposit to new levels through the employment of powerful trace element analysis techniques, which will enable efficient guidance of drilling planning for testing the high grade VMS mineralisation targets.
"At the same time, Mr. Todd McGilvray joins Argent as Exploration Manager, bringing a wealth of specific experience and expertise in polymetallic exploration.
"Originally trained at CODES and graduating with an honours degree in economic geology, Mr. McGilvray's credentials include the leadership of the exploration effort that resulted in the discovery of new ore lenses and a new mineralised domain, for an additional 22 million tonnes of high grade base and precious metals at MMG Ltd.'s Rosebery deposit in Tasmania, extending the mine life to 88 years.
"Mr. McGilvray's experience includes various roles related to either the resource expansion or business development of a broad range of some of the most prominent polymetallic projects in Australia. With several of these projects belonging to the same deposit peer group as Kempfieldii, including Rosebery, Hercules and Que River, Mr. McGilvray's expertise and experience will be of immediate benefit for Argent's pursuit of high grade base and precious metal discovery.
"The expansion of Argent's technical capabilities by these appointments will provide significant synergies as Argent prepares to drill test Kempfield, and also advance the West Wyalong porphyry copper gold project toward drilling".
About Argent Minerals Limited:
Argent Minerals Ltd. (ASX:ARD) is an Australian publicly listed company with a 100% interest in a silver/gold project at Kempfield NSW. Work is underway on the preparation of an EIS and a feasibility study for the first stage of the project which will involve heap leaching some 8.8 million tonnes of mainly oxide and transitional material to produce over 9.5 million ounces of silver and 15,000 ounces of gold over a 5 year mine life. Argent is also earning up to a 70% interest in two other NSW projects - gold at West Wyalong and base metals at Sunny Corner.
Contact:
Argent Minerals Ltd.
David Busch, Managing Director
M: 0415 613 800
E: david.busch@argentminerals.com.au
