During the fall, St Andrew drilled eight surface holes (4,026 metres) to confirm the extension of known ore shoots above and below underground workings. The workings extend to a depth of 350 metres.
Drilling on the down-plunge extension of the previously mined N2 orebody returned the following:
— 7.9 grams gold per tonne over 2 metres (beginning at a depth of about 430 metres below surface) in hole 3;
— 4.1 grams gold over 6.3 metres (from 430 metres), including 8.1 grams over 2 metres, in hole 4;
— 3.1 grams over 10.9 metres, including 6.75 grams over 1 metre and 9.1 grams over 1 metre, in hole 5;
— 2.5 grams over 2.2 metres (from 396.6 metres) in hole 7.
Holes 2 and 6 were drilled below the zone but failed to cut any significant mineralization.
Holes 3, 4, 7 and 8 also tested the upward plunge extension of the previously mined N1-West zone, and returned the following:
— Hole 3 — 11.25 grams over 1 metre;
— Hole 4 — 4.5 grams over 5 metres, including 8.3 grams over 2 metres;
— Hole 7 — 3.1 grams over 3 metres.
Hole 8 failed to cut any meaningful intersections above the N1 zone.
Hole 6 also cut a 4.9-metre section grading 2.6 metres, including 2 metres of 4.9 grams, in the Central zone. Drill hole 1 was abandoned.
An ongoing second round of surface holes is testing the West Discovery zone, 150 metres west of the existing mine workings. Previous drilling there returned up to 14.4 grams over 3 metres and 10.6 grams over 1 metre about 330 metres below surface.
The current drilling is targeting the Armstrong zone, 300 metres south of the existing Main N1-N2 zones, where a previous intersection runs 25 grams over 5.2 metres at 300 metres below surface. A total of 1,200 metres of drilling is planned.
Between 1989 and 2000, the Stock mine poured more than 137,000 oz. gold. In 2000, the mine produced its last batch, 12,276 oz., at a cash operating cost of US$232 per oz. The bulk of ounces were derived from two main ore shoots: N1 and N2.
St Andrew is confident the existing deposits at Stock extend at least 200 metres below the existing mine workings, or some 550 metes below surface. Dewatering and rehabilitation of the underground workings are expected to take four months. Thereafter, the company will carry out underground drilling and development. St Andrew hopes to delineate a resource of at least 250,000 tonnes.
In all, the company intends to sink some $3 million into the revival effort, which is slated to wrap up by September.
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