POTOMAC - The seasonal search for copper above Potomac has ended for the year leaving the ground resting and reclaimed.
According to Kennecott Exploration Company (KEC) Principal Geoscientist Clinton Roberts, the drill holes were completed east of Copper Cliff in the main exploration area. The drill sites were on private land and BLM land where Kennecott has exploration rights.
TonaTec, the drilling company, drilled two pilot holes and two wedges at the Copper Cliff site. Pilot holes are smaller holes drilled initially before the larger drill goes in and wedges are directional holes starting from the pilot hole.
Roberts said, “The first pilot hole encountered difficult drilling conditions and had to be terminated sooner than anticipated.” The difficulty in the first pilot hole was an intense zone of clay that kept causing the drill rods to get stuck.
Copper mineralization has been present in the drilling area and the resulting cores are being tested.
“The assays are still being processed but we anticipate them to confirm existing knowledge of mineralization in the area,” said Roberts. Assays are tests done on materials to determine their ingredients, quality and content.
Roberts said due to a change in policy addressing the remote project’s access to medical services, KEC had full-time paramedics on site this year. During future projects, medics will be required to be on certain sites that are far from hospitals.
With the fire danger and smoke this summer KEC had certain firefighting precautions in place including a sprinkler system and available water.
“The smoke and heat were definitely unpleasant, but did not really affect the drilling,” said Roberts.
Wildlife did not affect the drilling either, or seem bothered by it, according to Roberts. Black bear, mountain lions, moose, deer, elk and grouse were encountered.
The area creeks are monitored by KEC each drilling season. This summer’s results are still pending, according to Roberts who expects results similar to past years. Water findings should be complete by the first part of January.
Copper Cliff was the only drilling area this year although TonaTec used a landowner’s lot for equipment storage up Ashby Creek. The TonaTec drill rig was moved to another location after the season since it is not being used by KEC.
Future drilling during the summer of 2018 is dependent upon whether or not there will be a drilling budget.
KEC works closely with the Blackfoot Challenge and anticipates a community meeting in early 2018.
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