Blackthorn Resources Limited has reported that drilling at the Company's Mumbwa Project in Zambia has commenced following ground proofing of the planned drill hole locations.

The Phase 5 drilling program includes approximately 7,000m of cored drilling from a series of 14 holes over the Kitumba deposit. The drill pattern consists of 7 'infill' holes designed to tighten the drill spacing over the deposit and 7 'stepout' holes to test the down-dip extension of the mineral resource, which was considered 'open' at depth.

In October 2009, Blackthorn Resources announced that the Kitumba deposit contained a JORC code compliant inferred mineral resource estimated at 87Mt at 0.94% Cu (using a 0.5% cu cut-off). The Phase 5 drill program is aiming to improve the understanding and confidence levels of this mineral resource and add further value to an already substantial deposit.

Two drilling rigs from Drillcorp Africa (Pty) Ltd have mobilised to site and drilling operations have commenced. Double shift operations will begin in the near future. Drilling is planned to continue until the end of the year with analysis to be carried out as drill core samples become available.

Planning is underway to allow drilling of some holes to continue during the wet season. Blackthorn Resources has commissioned the Alfred H Knight Group to prepare and analyse the samples. First assay results are expected in the 4th quarter of 2011.

Managing director, Mr Scott Lowe said: "Blackthorn Resources is very pleased to resume management of the Mumbwa Project and to expedite further drilling in the Kitumba area. Confirmation that our Phase 5 drilling program has now commenced is another exciting step towards better defining the Kitumba mineral resource, as well as looking further afield to test some other highly ranked targets within the licence area."

Tags: Blackthorn Resources Limited