Drilling commences at Wheal Ellen

A reverse circulation drill program has commenced on Hillgrove Resources....

  A reverse circulation drill program has commenced on Hillgrove Resources’ Wheal Ellen Zinc Prospect, located within the highly prospective Angas/Kanmantoo mine corridor in the Adelaide Hills, to test a strong IP conductor.The polymetallic potential of this corridor has been recently highlighted with the development decision for the high-grade Angas polymetallic mine at Strathalbyn. Hillgrove’s planned exploration drill program includes 14 reverse circulation holes for a total of 1,700m. The exploration program is designed to investigate the new IP anomalies generated by the recent geophysical program and to test around the existing workings at Wheal Ellen. Hillgrove said it expects to receive the results of the exploration program between four and six weeks following the completion of the drilling. The Wheal Ellen Prospect is located 40km east/southeast of Adelaide and is 7km along strike from the Angas silver-lead-zinc mine. In September 2006, Hillgrove commenced a reverse circulation drilling program designed to test plunge extensions from the old stopes at Wheal Ellen based on 3D modelling of historical plans, combined with accurate topographic control. Results from the drilling were encouraging and confirmed the polymetallic nature of mineralisation. Peak assays included 13.08% lead, 5.43% zinc, 8.88g/t gold and 258g/t silver. Hillgrove said it envisages that higher grades will be achieved with increased drilling density. A geophysical survey of Wheal Ellen at the start of 2007 identified a strong IP conductor at depth, which is thought to be the down plunge location of the main Wheal Ellen ore body. This newly identified anomaly appears to be related to the silver-lead-zinc mineralisation present at Wheal Ellen and suggests the potential for a significant new discovery.