Canadian mining exploration company Thunderstruck Resources Ltd has commenced drilling at its Liwa gold and silver project in southern Viti Levu to determine the potential for commercially viable mineral deposits.
In a statement issued on October 20, the company confirmed that diamond drilling had begun at the project, marking the first systematic exploration of approximately two kilometres of mineralised ground.
The drilling programme will target three of the four known gold and silver exploration areas at Liwa — Liwa Ridge, Jensen’s and Lower Vatuvatulevu.
Thunderstruck said previous surface sampling had produced encouraging results, including a sample from Lower Vatuvatulevu containing 41.6 grams of gold and 1,205 grams of silver per tonne.
However, these results are from preliminary surface samples and do not establish the size or commercial viability of any mineral deposit.
The company expects to complete its first four drill holes by mid-December 2026, subject to weather conditions, with laboratory results anticipated shortly afterwards.
Thunderstruck president and chief executive officer Bryce Bradley welcomed the start of drilling, describing it as an important milestone for the project.
“I am very pleased to be reporting today the commencement of diamond drilling at our Liwa gold-silver project,” Ms Bradley said.
“Successive field campaigns at Liwa by Thunderstruck have generated a series of high quality gold-silver targets which we now have the opportunity to drill test in a systematic fashion for the very first time.”
Ms Bradley said the company was working with its new major shareholder, Zhaojin International Gold Co. Ltd, and drilling contractor Huakan Group to assess the project’s mineral potential.
The drilling programme will be carried out using a track-mounted HYDX-6F drilling rig.
Following the initial work at Liwa, Thunderstruck plans to begin drilling at its Korokayiu zinc-copper project during the first quarter of 2027, depending on weather conditions.
Further exploration at the nearby Rama copper-gold and Nakoro zinc-copper projects is expected later in 2027.
Thunderstruck holds full ownership of two special prospecting licences covering approximately 336 square kilometres in southern Viti Levu.
These licences include the Liwa, Rama, Nakoro and Korokayiu exploration projects.
The company said its exploration activities were focused on identifying potentially valuable deposits of gold, silver, copper and zinc in Fiji.
The latest drilling programme will help determine whether the promising surface sampling results extend below ground and whether further mineral resource assessment is warranted.
