Orion Minerals (ASX/JSE:ORN) has announced the commencement of a major SkyTEM airborne electromagnetic survey over its flagship Prieska zinc-copper project in South Africa’s Northern Cape region, as it continues to accelerate its near-mine exploration program.

The company said that the intensification of near-mine exploration activities follows the successful completion of the mineral resource drill-out of the Prieska deep sulfide target and the announcement of an early breakthrough with the recent discovery of a new satellite VMS discovery at the Ayoba prospect, 5.3km south-west of the Prieska project.

As highlighted in the press release:

• 143km2 high-power SkyTEM airborne electromagnetic survey commences at the Prieska project.
• The survey is designed to explore for new zinc-copper deposits on Orion’s tenements within the highly prospective Prieska volcanogenic massive sulfide camp.
• The survey will cover the Prieska zinc-copper deposit itself as well as five satellite deposits and their strike extensions, in order to confirm the geophysical signature of known mineralization and identify potential new drilling targets.
• The target area has not been covered by modern geophysics since the 1980’s, with the last combined airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey being conducted in 1969.
• Electromagnetic geophysical methods have a proven discovery record in the Areachap belt and specifically at Prieska.

Click here to read the full Orion Minerals (ASX/JSE:ORN) press release.