The explorer said it intersected additional coal with three exploration holes and two geotechnical holes, 800m north of the proposed open pit.
The best result from the exploration holes identified 12.5m of coal from 195m down while the best geotechnical intersection marked 11.5m of coal from 241m.
The test extension brings potential coal at Ovoot within one kilometer of 25Mt of indicated coal resources to the northeast which will be the focus of underground mining studies in the second half of the year.
Aspire’s next exploration program for the area will target the Hurimt prospect 20km east of Ovoot.
Hurimt drilling is expected to be completed by the end of October and will mark the end of exploration activities until after the winter months when a follow-up program will be initiated in 2013.
Ovoot is the third largest coking coal reserve in Mongolia, according to the company, and is capable of producing 153Mt of high-quality coking coal over a 15-year mine life.
