Giyani Metals kicks off infill drilling at K.Hill manganese project
Giyani Metals has commenced infill drilling programme at its K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana.
Thissignificant strides involves a 2,500m infill drilling programme that will utilize a combination of Reverse Circulation (RC) and Diamond Drilling (DD) techniques. RC drilling, chosen for its cost-effectiveness, will handle hole collaring and initial casing. Meanwhile, DD will provide superior sample recovery for in-depth analysis and density test work.
K.Hill manganese project
The data gathered from this drilling initiative is a crucial step towards updating the mineral resource estimate (MRE) for their planned 2025 Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS). By aiming to define measured mineral resources for the initial five years of mining operations, they’re aligning with typical project finance debt facility requirements. This deeper insight will enable more accurate modeling of ore grade and elemental profiles, leading to more precise production forecasting.
Last year’s transportation of around 100 tonnes of mineralized material from K.Hill to Johannesburg sets the stage for processing into high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate at the demo plant in the latter half of 2024. This material will also serve as feedstock for the forthcoming commercial plant in Botswana, slated to commence full-scale production in 2027.
Giyani’s President and CEO, Danny Keating, highlighted the importance of these initiatives in de-risking the project for potential financiers. By bringing a significant portion of indicated mineral resources into the measured category, they’re bolstering confidence in the mine plan, crucial during the anticipated debt repayment period. Moreover, this effort may lead to the declaration of proven reserves in the upcoming definitive feasibility study, further solidifying the project’s foundation.
