AusQuest (ASX:AQD) said its maiden reverse circulation drilling program at the Coober Pedy iron-oxide copper-gold project in South Australia was partially completed, according to a Friday Australian bourse filing.

The firm is engaging a second drilling company to complete the program by using the mud rotary drilling technique to penetrate and case off the sand unit, before completing the planned hole depth of around 350 meters with either reverse circulation or diamond drilling.

Drilling is planned to restart in the third quarter as soon as a suitable drill rig becomes available.

The project is subject to the strategic alliance agreement with a wholly-owned unit of South32 (ASX:S32).