Rick Trotman, president and CEO of Barksdale said: "This is the first drill programme in Barksdale's corporate history, and we couldn't be more excited to start testing the initial targets at San Javier.
"I was in Mexico to oversee the start of the programme and am very pleased with the quality and professional nature of our team, including the drill crew.
"We look forward to providing additional updates as we advance the drilling programme and begin to release technical updates to the market."
The first drill hole from the 5,000m phase I drilling programme is underway at the Cerro Verde zone, where copper oxide mineralisation can be found at surface. The primary goal of the programme is testing the controls to San Javier deposit at Cerro Verde as well as to step out from known areas of previously drilled mineralisation. Additionally, the phase I programme will provide metallurgical samples that will be used to initiate column test work with McClelland Labs, which will provide the company with metal recovery data that is necessary to continue advancing the project towards development.
Upon completion of the phase I programme, the resulting higher drilling density will also serve to increase confidence within an updated 3D geologic model that will form the base for a new resource estimate. Based on the results from the phase I programme, Barksdale may decide to extend the drilling campaign at San Javier.
Barksdale has contracted Globexplore Drilling S.A. de C.V, based in Hermosillo, Mexico, to complete the initial drilling programme with a single diamond drill rig.
Depending on drill advancement rates, the initial 5,000m oriented core programme is estimated to take less than 12 weeks to complete, with assays and other technical updates occurring over the remainder of 2021.
The programme at San Javier has been designed and will be overseen by Tom Simpson, Barksdale's SVP of Exploration, with Gambusino Prospector de Mexico S.A. de C.V executing the technical programme and managing the day-to-day logistics.
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