Polymet begins drilling

Junior Polymet Mining (POM-V) has begun drilling on it NorthMet polymetallic project in northern Minnesota.

The company intends drill 80-100 holes in a program that is expected to last one year (43,000 ft. core and 28,000 ft. reverse-circulation).

Reverse-circulation drilling is under way, with core drilling set to begin in late-November.

Drill results are expected to contribute to a reserve estimate, which in turn will form part of a prefeasibility study due in March or April of 2000.

Also, cuttings from the reverse-circulation rig will be used in a 4-tonne bulk concentrate, to be processed by Lakefield Research at its lab in Ontario. Polymet expects to have a pressure oxidation plant operational by late 1999 or early 2000.

NorthMet (formerly known as Dunka Road) contains an inferred resource of 808 million tonnes averaging 0.43% copper and 0.11% nickel, plus 0.44 gram palladium, 0.12 gram platinum and 0.061 gram gold per tonne. The resource is based on 112 holes. In addition to the drilling, Polymet has begun relogging unassayed drill core.