Red Bird Gold Project Drilling Permits Secured—Can SQX Deliver a Bulk Tonnage Resource?
SQX Resources’ subsidiary AM6 has secured final drilling permits for its Red Bird Gold Project in Arizona, enabling the start of a maiden 2,500m Reverse Circulation drilling program targeting high-grade gold mineralisation and extensions.
- Final Bureau of Land Management permits secured for drilling
- Maiden ~2,500m Reverse Circulation drilling program commencing immediately
- Visible coarse gold recently identified, confirming high-grade potential
- Concurrent underground LIDAR mapping and channel sampling underway
- Targeting maiden JORC Mineral Resource with potential open-pit bulk tonnage
Regulatory Green Light for Drilling
SQX Resources Limited’s 80%-owned subsidiary AM6 has achieved a critical milestone by securing final approval from the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to commence drilling at the Red Bird Gold Project in Arizona. This approval clears the way for immediate site works and the launch of a maiden Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling campaign, marking a transition from exploration planning to active resource definition.
Exploration Strategy and Drilling Program
The upcoming ~2,500-metre RC drilling program is designed to test known high-grade gold mineralisation zones and explore extensions both at depth and along strike. The shallow drill holes, typically between 50 and 120 metres deep, are strategically placed to maximise geological coverage and data acquisition. Partnering with Midnight Sun Drilling, a leading North American contractor, AM6 aims to rapidly advance its understanding of the deposit’s scale and grade distribution.
Visible Gold and Structural Validation
Recent structural mapping and sampling have revealed visible, coarse gold within argillic altered rock specimens at surface, providing tangible validation of the project’s high-grade potential. This visual confirmation adds a compelling layer of confidence to the exploration program, underscoring the prospect of significant mineralisation within this historically productive district.
Parallel Underground Workstreams
In tandem with drilling, AM6 has completed detailed LIDAR surveys of the underground workings, enabling precise mapping and facilitating systematic channel sampling. This integrated approach is designed to accelerate the definition of a maiden JORC Mineral Resource by combining surface drilling data with underground geological insights.
Strategic Outlook in a Tier-1 Mining Jurisdiction
Arizona’s status as a globally recognised Tier-1 mining jurisdiction enhances the strategic appeal of the Red Bird Project. SQX’s Executive Chairman, Patric Glovac, emphasised the company’s ambition to identify a large-scale, bulk-tonnage gold system that could support open-pit mining. The combination of high-grade veins and lower-grade disseminated mineralisation presents a compelling commercial opportunity.
As AM6 progresses with its maiden drilling and underground sampling, the market will be watching closely for assay results and resource updates that could unlock significant value for SQX Resources.
Bottom Line?
With drilling underway and visible gold confirmed, SQX’s Red Bird project is poised for a pivotal exploration phase that could reshape its resource profile.
Questions in the middle?
- What assay results will confirm the extent and grade of the mineralisation?
- How quickly can AM6 define a maiden JORC Mineral Resource from combined drilling and sampling?
- Will the project’s scale support economically viable open-pit mining operations?
