Drilling completed at Mongolian coal mine

Mining firm, Viking Mines, has successfully completed its drilling programme at the Berkh Uul coal project in Mongolia.

According to the company, the programme was completed “well within budget”.

The drilling programme was completed by drilling contractors Ellehcor, with 1064.5 m drilled in 18 holes. The programme, designed to infill and extend the existing drill coverage, commenced in the northeast of the licence area, where there is pre-existing drilling within the confines of the current 38 million t coal resource. The drilling progressed to the south, targeting extensions to the deposit to add to the current resource.

The drilling tested the near surface (top 60 m) shallow west dipping eastern limb of a broad south plunging synclinal structure, in which two main coal seams (Seams 1 and 2) are located. Holes were drilled using open hole precollars, with PQ diamond tails through the target coal bearing zones, on a nominal 500 m line spacing.

All holes were down-hole surveyed for geophysical and directional data, with all drill collars surveyed to sub-metre accuracy. Geological logging was completed by Viking geologists under the supervision of RSC Consultants.

A total of 87 samples were collected from PQ drill core for coal analysis, samples are now at Bureau Veritas laboratory in Ulaanbaatar.

On receipt of assay results, Viking Mines will provide a full discussion and analysis of the outcomes from the drilling programme. 

Adapted from press release by Sam Dodson

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/exploration-and-development/04122014/drilling-programme-completed-at-mongolian-coal-project-1642/