Anooraq Resources has announced that drilling has re-commenced at the Boikgantsho Joint Venture located on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex.

Joint owned by Anooraq and Anglo Platinum, the Boikgantsho project is directed towards the exploration and development of platinum group metals in the Drenthe and Overysel North deposits.

Independent estimates of the collective mineral resources in these deposits values them at a $20 gross metal value per tonne (GMV/t) cut-off.

Anooraq added that scoping level engineering studies have been carried out with the results of the preliminary assessment expected shortly.

All of the analytical data, geological models and mineral resource estimates will then be updated for a pre-feasibility study in the first half of 2005.

"The current 24,000 metre multi-rig drilling program is focused on the Drenthe deposit," Anooraq said in a statement.

"Drilling is planned to proceed at 50 metre intervals along 50 metre spaced lines in order to define measured mineral resources within the deposit, and advance the project toward a bankable feasibility study."