Violetta, the Target 7 'impenetrable unit' was something the light duty core-auger drill couldn't penetrate. That was earlier phase drilling (economic logic). Now that more work has been done & plenty more important data has been received/ factored in, a bigger drill (HQ) is being brought in, on several new refined targets & including a return to Target 7.
You're referring to what is discussed on the new MMU Website
"Project Description" page:
mmu.simplenet.com
...In March 1998, a seven-target drill program was launched and six targets were drilled before the area was closed due to spring breakup. A light reconnaissance drill was used for stratigraphic testing. One target consisted of routine mudstones. The remaining targets all contained varying amounts of weathered volcanic ash with some of the ash layers containing diagnostic kimberlite indicator minerals and volcanic glass condensate spherules. Two of the targets, both located in the northern part of the property, contained thick accumulations of volcanic ash near surface. One of the targets, Target 7, is a large, medium-intensity magnetic anomaly. It coincides with a topographic bump and a distinctive vegetation "kill zone". Drilling to date reveals the presence of volcanic ashes to a depth of 13 metres. Below lies an extremely hard layer that could not be penetrated by the light reconnaissance drill used in March, 1998. The drill was moved a couple of metres and encountered the same hard material at the same stratigraphic level. The supervising geologist authorized the use of force and damage to the drill occurred. The damage was repaired in the field and a third attempt was made several hundred metres away from the first location. Upon applying extreme force, the drill sustained damage that could not be repaired in the field. Target Seven remains a priority drill target for the 1999 drill program. Follow-up grain analysis from the volcanic layers overlying the hard layer suggests that the material consists of ash ejecta from nearby volcanic vents of ultramafic or kimberlitic composition and as such may represent nearby diamond hosts rocks...
---------------------------
I presume it is encouraging, partly anyway, because the surrounding bedrock in the region, I believe, is largely compacted sandstone, making for a softer, easier drilled material than any kimberlite disruptions might. This encouragement is significant, of course, in that it also coincides with several other supporting indicators, some of which are outlined in the above excerpt.
Also, again, remember that a substantial amount of pertinent information has been ascertained since that last drill program (see new weblink above).
So, yes Violetta, the bigger heavier-duty drill is positive.
_Hope this helps!
Have a great day, Violetta!
-j
:>
PS, that same page ends with:
Current Status - February 1999
A systematic exploration program, carried out over 18 months, has progressively advanced the project to a state where coincident and corroborating geological datasets strongly suggest the existence of kimberlite pipes at or near a selected number of target locations. The next objective is to drill a small number of prioritized geological targets. The required action is to select five to ten targets in the highest priority areas and to drill relatively short holes, between 100 and 150 metres deep, to test the targets. Drill permits for selected targets have been received and a February drill program has been initiated. |
