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- Blackstone Minerals (BSX) has begun drilling at the Ta Cuong prospect, part of the Ta Khoa Project in northern Vietnam
- Ta Cuong is Blackstone’s second high-priority massive sulphide vein (MSV) prospect within its portfolio of 25 MSV prospects
- Previous drilling resulted in 1.95 per cent nickel, 4.47 per cent copper, 0.12 per cent cobalt and 0.66 grams per tonne of platinum group elements
- Additionally, Blackstone is preparing to deliver a maiden resource for the Ban Phuc prospect before the end of the month
- Ultimately, Blackstone is looking to develop a nickel and cobalt product to supply the growing lithium-ion battery industry in Asia
- Company shares are up 4.17 per cent and trading for 50 cents
Blackstone Minerals (BSX) has begun drilling at the Ta Cuong prospect, part of the Ta Khoa Project in northern Vietnam.
Ta Cuong is Blackstone’s second high-priority massive sulphide vein (MSV) prospect within its portfolio of 25 MSV prospects to be tested using modern techniques.
This drilling is part of the company’s goal to target MSV prospects that are similar to the recently discovered Ban Chang prospect and the Ban Phuc orebody.
“We are pleased to announce drilling has commenced at Ta Cuong, our second MSV prospect. Based on geological similarities and now with some exciting EM plates to target, we believe it has the potential to deliver similar results to Ban Chang and Ban Phuc,” Managing Director Scott Williamson said.
The Ta Cuong prospect is associated with the Ban Khang intrusion, which is located six kilometres northwest of Ban Phuc and is hosted in the Ban Phuc Horizon.
Previous trench sampling at Ta Cuong resulted in the discovery of a 130-metre strike of gossan assaying 0.48 per cent nickel and 0.54 per cent copper.
In July this year, the company assayed historical drill holes which returned significant results. These include 15.6 metres at 0.66 per cent nickel, 0.6 per cent copper, 0.04 per cent cobalt and 0.31g/t platinum group element (PGE) from 45.9 metres including 0.6 metres at 1.95 per cent nickel, 4.47 per cent copper, 0.12 per cent cobalt and 0.66g/t PGE from 51.7 metres.
Over the next few months, Blackstone will continue ground-based electromagnetic surveys at Ta Cuong which will then be followed up with further drilling.
An immediate focus, however, is delivering a maiden resource focused on Ban Phuc in the current quarter.
Blackstone has commenced a scoping study on the downstream processing facility at Ta Khoa and metallurgical testing on the Ban Phuc DSS deposit. This is part of the company’s aim to develop a product suitable for the lithium-ion battery industry.
Additionally, Blackstone Minerals will look into developing downstream processing infrastructure in Vietnam to produce a nickel and cobalt product to supply Asia’s growing lithium-ion battery industry.
Company shares are up 4.17 per cent and trading for 50 cents at 1:12 pm AEST.
