Arkadian Strategic Metals plc has completed a 12-metre underground vertical access route to investigate the Jack Williams stope exploration target at Clogau gold mine in North Wales.
Ladders and intermediate access platforms, using existing mine workings, were installed to establish a staged route from the Tyn y Cornel level into the stope, which was identified in 2020-2021.
Following inspections, mapping and systematic sampling at Jack Williams, the company will decide whether to progress with “substantial” new underground development and also identify the strongest targets.
Arkadian said that the Jack Williams stope is located at the junction of the Tyn y Cornel adit and the Main Lode, adding: “It represents the westernmost historically mined portion of the Main Lode, the principal quartz-vein structure along which the majority of historic mining at Clogau-St David’s took place.
“Historic records indicate that the Main Lode was worked eastwards from the Jack Williams stope for approximately 300 metres to the Bryntirion Fault and for at least a further 150 metres within the St David’s Mine workings.”
A detailed sampling and mineralogical review is also progressing on the recently completed underground development on Level 5 of the Lower Llechfraith workings.
Arkadian found no economic gold-bearing material at the recently completed Level 5 development but collected samples for comparison with historical data.
Executive chairman George Frangeskides added: “Exploration at Clogau has always required a disciplined and evidence-led approach, given the highly variable and nuggety distribution of its gold mineralisation.
“Our response is therefore to continue following the geological evidence and to compare what we have learned at Level 5 with other priority areas within the mine.”