Previous Exploration
Interest in the farm Adjoining Geelvloer 197 was first aroused in 1973 when USA-based Phelps Dodge Corporation identified an aeromagnetic anomaly during a reconnaissance airborne survey. Subsequent geological mapping and geochemical surveys identified several zones of gossanous sub-outcrop over a strike of 17km to the east and west. The discovery of the sub-outcropping gossan was followed up by extensive regional and detailed geophysical and geochemical soil surveys and percussion drilling that confirmed the sulphide mineralisation extended to at least 650 m below surface (mbs).
In 1977 the project changed hands and became part of a Gencor managed Joint Venture with Union Corporation. Additional drilling and geophysics increased the known depth of sulphide mineralisation to at least 1,140 mbs. In addition to drilling, trenching and geophysical surveys were undertaken to evaluate the continuity of the mineralized horizons. After Gencor, the property was taken under option by Goldfields Mining and Development that conducted further regional geological and structural mapping and limited scout drilling.
In early 1995, Pioneer Minerals (Pty) Ltd obtained the rights to the property and shortly afterwards formed a joint venture with Thabex. In 1997, Thabex exercised its rights to acquire the mineral rights and conducted several drilling campaigns that included 28 drill holes, totalling 3,441 m. The drilling was completed in October 2006. In 2007 Thabex completed a mineral resource estimate in terms of the Guidelines of the SAMREC Code (2000).
In 2021, Lukin Resources acquired the rights to Vaalkop and commissioned an independent review of the estimate to comply with the guidelines of the JORC Code (2012). The resource estimate is based on 92 drill holes (percussion and diamond) on the property (Figure 13).
Planned Exploration
Malmani Resources’ long-term goal is to test the potential for extensions to the Bushy Park mineralisation below the current resource limit and increase the reported resource base (Figure 17).
Lukin Resources’ focus over the next two years will be to further explore the untested historic anomalies proximal to the existing resources, specifically:
Additionally, the Company will commission pilot-scale metallurgical test work on stockpiled ore-grade material extracted during the historic test mining. The test work will aim to assess the application of modern, low-cost pre-concentration technologies such as X-ray sorting (XSS).
