Generalities regarding timing of core, assay, 3D model, etc As we are all aware, the company has just now begun with the final stages of the Advanced Exploration Phase: actual coring, assaying and new volumetric mineralization model building; where the building of the new mineralization model is the ultimate technical objective of this ongoing phase.
On this milestone, a BIG congratulations to the ENTIRE OCO team. I am confident that with this full process they will do, as they have with every previous phase so far, a very good job and that in due time the investment community will learn the full results.
I have no special insider info but, based on my experience in the soft-rock industry --- that is, petroleum exploration, as opposed to this hard rock Cu-porphyry exploration here at ST --- let me share comments of what I anticipate will be the GENERAL points of the assay portion of this overall field effort.
[1] I assume that in the contracting for these field services, there is included a number of pages --- maybe even a full chapter --- devoted to describing contractual obligations and protocols for each of these separate tasks, so, what I provide in the following is, at best, only the high points.
[2] Regarding the assay portion, I suspect there will be at least three significant parts: the first will be when the core comes fresh out of the ground, it is worked on by the “company” field geologist, engineer and others, primarily at the on-site core warehouse, the second will be when the field-prepped core is sent to the independent accredited assay specialist --- whomever and wherever that may be --- and, the third will be when such results are received back, compared with the preliminary field geologist results; where all such final results are then integrated into the final 3D mineralization model.
[3] When the cores comes out of the ground --- let’s say, about 50m-100m per day, per rig --- the field geologist --- I assume that he/she will be a well-qualified megascopic petrologist … one who is expert at hand-and-microscopic examination and mineral characterization of core --- will assess the primary mineral characteristics of the core and determine which portions of that core need to be assayed. Note: the entire core will not be assayed; which is why this field assessment will be so critical. [I do not know the detail of the protocols of this discrimination process but I am sure it is presented in detail in the contract.]
[4] This field mineral assessment, which, in most cases can be performed in a matter of hours for every day’s worth of coring, will provide a pretty good approximation of the “Cu-richness” of each and every meter of core; at least, that is what an experienced field geologist should be able to do.
[5] Depending on how many meters/d the entire coring operation can achieve --- I do not know whether the core drillers will be working 24/7 --- but, if this is anything like petroleum coring, the field geologist will, indeed, be working 24/7; where, most likely, if needed, there will be involved at least a few of them working in shifts; and, if this is to be a several month operation, there will certainly be something like weekly of bi-weekly work shifts.
[6] At first the field assessment, relatively speaking, may be a bit slower, but, as the program progresses, I anticipate that the entire geological crew will soon “get up that learning curve” --- even for such experts, this always happens when working a new project, especially one of this magnitude --- to where they will become very proficient at it, so that on a daily basis, churning out reams of mineral characterization information.
[7] Further, part of this field geology process will be starting with the foundational integration of the core data into the new mineralization model; where, of course, this field assessment will not be the final assessment, but, the company will want to --- they will need to --- quality control the procedure to ensure that the results, as they come out of the ground, are at least in general agreement with what they are seeing in the 3DIP chargeability model and etc. One of the primary reasons for this is that such preliminary assessments may cause the company to alter the upcomiong core locations. Note: further, Adam Smith did say that the company will not wait for the entire coring operation to be completed BEFORE they produce the comprehensive NI-43-101 document; rather, they will most likely create several such “mini” documents, where this field assessment will be the beginning portion of how these individual documents may be divvied up.
[8] Note that I do not know to what degree the company field geologists-engineers will be in communication with the “independent” assay lab; however, in a project of this magnitude, where there will be portions of core, showing “marginal” Cu-mineralization --- there may be many meters of such core --- the company will want to get “commerciality credit” for any such rock, but, they may not want to assume the relatively heavy time and cost of assaying every single cm of same, they may need to discuss such things with the “independent” assayer; where, between these two entities, this will require a considerable amount of direct communication, the details to be worked out, within the confines of the contract, between them.
[9] My overall point is that, on a DAILY basis, “fresh out of the ground”, the company will be getting a pretty good idea of the “Cu-richness” of the individual core and they will not need to wait 4-8 weeks, or more --- for the actual accredited assay results to be provided --- before they will have some meaningful indications of the results … and how such will be integrated into the final 3D mineralization model. Further, however, how the company may relay any such information particulars to the general public, well, that’s another matter altogether; where, I would not be surprised at all to see, MUCH BEFORE the accredited assay results are received, the company discussing publicly such “preliminary” core results.
We shall see. Again, in all such things, I trust the OCO management to make good decisions.
PS: Regarding Wuhan flu: it is what it is, but, within prescribed protocols, I do not anticipate that this will change anything in way of performance of the company field geologists; however, what impact it may have on the assay lab, I will not speculate.
PPS: to emphasize, the above, based on my indirect experience, is only my speculation, and, as one can see, it is very general; where, I would not be at all too surprised if along the way --- this is a big project and some geological surprises would not be too surprising --- to see some changes to what I speculate above. Of course, if, along the course of this overall effort, some BIG DOLLAR major Cu player steps in with an offer, then all bets are off.