Hillgrove announces Sumba drilling programme

Australian firm Hillgrove Resources Limited announced on Wednesday that it has awarded a drilling contract for up to 8,000m of diamond drilling for the Sumba Project.

Drilling is scheduled to commence in mid-April 2010 and will initially target high grade epithermal gold mineralization within the Pahandanjal Prospect, the Company said.

The drill program will utilize two man portable drill rigs which are purpose built for working in steep terrain.

The first rig will arrive early to mid April, and the second rig in June. One of the drill rigs will then be sent to Pelitilira Prospect in Central Sumba in the second half of 2010.

Sumba is located in the province of East Nusa Tengarra and is south of the islands of Flores and Sumbawa. An Exploration Mining Business License (IUP) has been awarded to Hillgrove?s Indonesian joint venture partner, PT Fathi Resources. The IUP has been granted for a term of six years and permits exploration for metals, gold and other associated minerals over an area of 999km?.

Hillgrove has an 80% economic interest in the Project. The IUP encompasses highly prospective ground which has been shown to contain identified zones of gold and base metal mineralization. (alex)