Alice Queen has started work at the Horn Island gold project in the Torres Strait under its new joint venture with St Barbara.

The company said planning had been completed for the first two joint venture work programs.

The priority is drill target generation for large-scale intrusion-related gold systems.

An infill soils sampling program is underway, with a geophysical induced polarisation survey to follow.

“Having planned and commenced the first works programs within two months of entering into the JV is a significant achievement,” Alice Queen managing director Andrew Buxton said.

“On the back of an extensive body of work, carried out by Alice Queen over the previous three years, this maiden program signals a significant shift in terms of exploration focus at Horn Island, under the JV at Horn island, with exploration targeting potential large scale IRGS gold deposit.”