Alice Queen Appoints Adrian Hell to Accelerate Horn Island Drilling

Adrian Hell Returns to Lead Horn Island Exploration

Alice Queen Limited (ASX:AQX) has brought back Adrian Hell as Exploration Manager, a move designed to inject momentum into drilling at its Horn Island Gold Project in North Queensland's Torres Strait. Hell’s previous six-year tenure at Horn Island, where he managed nearly all exploration and drilling activities, gives him an intimate understanding of the gold system and local geology that few others possess.

Hell’s reappointment signals a strategic push to expand the project’s existing Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), which currently stands at 16.7 million tonnes grading 0.98 grams per tonne gold, equating to 524,000 ounces, according to the 2012 JORC standard. The company emphasised that a detailed exploration plan is being finalised and will be shared with the market shortly.

Planned Multi-Phase Diamond Core Drilling to Extend Resource

The core of Alice Queen’s upcoming exploration strategy is a multi-phase diamond core drilling program targeting up to 5,000 metres across as many as 20 holes. This drilling is intended to test extensions of the known mineralisation and potentially upgrade the resource base. The company is currently reviewing multiple proposals from drilling contractors to execute this campaign.

This drilling initiative aligns with the company’s recently raised capital, where over half of the $5.77 million rights issue proceeds have been earmarked for Horn Island diamond core drilling, reflecting a clear prioritisation of resource growth at this flagship asset $5.77 Million Rights Issue Allocation.

Adrian Hell’s Track Record and Expertise

With over 27 years in mineral exploration and mining, Hell brings a wealth of experience spanning greenfields discoveries to resource development and corporate transactions. His background includes managing exploration programs across Australia and challenging environments in the Middle East and North Africa. Before rejoining Alice Queen, Hell was Exploration Manager at Sorrento Resources, overseeing programs targeting gold, copper, silver, lithium, and platinum group metals.

Hell’s return is particularly significant given his proven ability to integrate geological, geochemical, and geophysical data to generate compelling drill targets. His pragmatic and results-driven approach is expected to expedite the advancement of Horn Island’s exploration objectives.

Horn Island Project Positioned for Growth

The Horn Island Gold Project has been a central focus for Alice Queen, with the company recently launching a $5.77 million rights issue to accelerate exploration and development activities. The capital raise, supported by substantial shareholders, underscores confidence in the project’s potential and the company’s strategy to unlock additional value through systematic drilling and resource expansion Launches $5.77 Million Rights Issue.

Previous diamond core drilling has laid a solid foundation for resource estimation, but the upcoming program under Hell’s guidance aims to push beyond current boundaries. The detailed exploration plan’s imminent release will provide further clarity on the timing and scope of activities, which investors will watch closely given the potential to materially impact the project’s valuation.