May 2025 Exploratory Drilling Works - Public Information Notice

Unit 8, Castle Street
Castlepark Industrial Estate, Ellon, AB41 9RF
Website: www.aberdeenminerals.com
Email: moc.slarenimneedreba@ofni
Freephone: 0800 047 8736
 

Date: 07 May 2025

Public Information Notice
Exploratory Mineral Drilling Works at Arthrath, near Ellon

We wish to notify the public of plans for our “Phase 2B” programme of exploratory mineral drilling works at Upper Arthrath farm, near Ellon, AB41 8YP, as indicated in Picture 1. Five new boreholes are proposed at the site.

The drilling forms part of Aberdeen Minerals’ ongoing assessment of naturally occurring deposits of nickel, copper and cobalt minerals which were first discovered and drilled at Arthrath in the 1960s and 70s. The company has already completed 16 boreholes at the site during 2023 and 2024. The area is identified as a mineral safeguarded site in the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2023.

Nickel and cobalt are classed by the UK as “critical minerals” due to their importance to the country’s economic interests, and copper is used for the electrification of energy systems. Aberdeen Minerals is working under agreements with local landowners to assess the economic potential for these metals in Aberdeenshire.

The works will involve one small rotary drill rig (Picture 2) and supporting equipment to be provided by Priority Drilling UK Ltd. Two or three drillers will operate the rig. The rig will drill a small diameter (100-120 mm), angled borehole into the ground to recover a continuous “core” of rock (Picture 3). The boreholes in this phase will reach over 300 metres vertical depth.

Our geologists will use the core to measure the properties of the rocks and take samples for further investigation.

Our ongoing investigations are preliminary and exploratory in nature at this time, and the results will be used to advance the mineral appraisal at this location.

The drilling works are due to commence around 16th May. They are currently scheduled to continue until mid August. All works are carried out in cooperation with the landowners. In accordance with Class 53 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, operations will be carried out between the hours of 7am and 6pm only. They will also be carried out in accordance with The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011.

We aim to minimise disruption to local residents and farming operations. There may be brief periods when the section of minor road past Upper Arthrath farm is used to onload and unload equipment. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to users of this route. The company is contacting properties in the immediate vicinity of the site with more information.

If you have any questions about these plans, please contact us using the details at the top of this letter.

More information about Aberdeen Minerals is available on our website www.aberdeenminerals.com.

On behalf of Aberdeen Minerals,

Fraser Gardiner
Chief Executive Officer