THE first drilling results of Redmoor Mine at Kelly Bray have been released and are said to be ‘encouraging’.

Australian Mining Company New Age Exploration (NAE) acquired an exploration licence and the right to develop and operate a mine at Redmoor in 2012. Cornwall Resources Ltd (CRL) was subsequently set up — a joint venture between NAE and Strategic Minerals — for the Redmoor Tin-Tungsten mine project.

Earlier this year CRL began the two-phase drilling programme to identify and expand resources.

NAE released the findings from the first ten holes of the drilling programme and said it had received encouraging results from discrete high-grade zones within the sheeted vein system (SVS) with thicknesses and grades exceeding expectations of NAE’s directors.

NAE managing director Gary Fietz said that the results mean the second phase of the drilling programme will now refocus to look at specific ‘high-grade zones within the SVS’, which it is believed will be a ‘superior underground mining target’.

He said: ‘We look forward to updating the market on the remaining Phase 1 and Phase 2 drilling results in quarter 4 this year and on the resource update in the first quarter of 2018.’

CRL consulted with the local community over two days last week to show the findings of the initial drill programme at the Pannier Market in Callington.

Callington town clerk Helen Dowdall said: ‘The early indications are positive and we as a town council will work with all parties to ensure that clear messages are put to the public regularly and that they stay suitably informed.’

Jeff Harrison, consultant for Cornwall Resources, said: ‘The support from the local community and stakeholders has been excellent and CRL hope this continues as the project develops.’

CRL’s joint venture partners NAE and SML have now committed to evenly fund the first three holes of Phase 2 — £150,000 — and will fund up to a further Phase 2 holes if required.