Idaho revs up Stillwater program

A 4,000-metre drill program is testing the first of two targets outlined by Idaho Consolidated Metals (IDO-V) at the Stillwater complex in Montana.

The junior, which owns 110 sq. km of ground adjacent to the platinum-palladium mine of Stillwater Mining (SWC-X), is initially targeting the Fishtail Creek area. The area is in the eastern end of the complex and covers a 3.5-km segment of the JM Reef, being mined next door.

(At the Stillwater mine, the JM Reef hosts 33 million tonnes grading 24 grams platinum group metals (PGMs) per tonne. The reserve is spread over 45 km of the reef.)

A second rig will be set up shortly in the Crescent Creek area, where a geophysical survey outlined what appears to be a 3.4-km offset of the reef. The offset sits in the central portion of the intrusive complex.

Also near Crescent Creek, drilling will test the Volatile Enriched zone, which lies 300 metres stratigraphically below the JM reef. In the 1970s, when it was discovered and last explored (owing to the subsequent discovery of the JM Reef), the stratigraphy yielded up to 16 grams PGMs per tonne.

Idaho Consolidated is also exploring other targets in the complex, including the basal nickel-copper sulphide zones and overlying A and B chromite layers, plus the stratigraphically higher Picket Pin horizon (a smaller reef running parallel to the JM reef). All have returned promising values of PGMs in scout drilling or grab samples.