Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX:ALK) continues to enhance the gold potential of near-mine targets at the Tomingley Gold Operations (TGO) in Central West New South Wales with strong results from recent drilling outside the resource at the Tomingley Extension Project.
Near-mine exploration has identified gold mineralisation at several prospect areas all within seven kilometres at the TGO processing facility, including at targets within the proposed extension of the Mining Lease.
McLeans shines
Providing particular encouragement for the company are the results from McLeans Prospect, which is between the 904,000-ounce Roswell deposit and the Tomingley site but outside the Roswell resource.
These include:
- 41 metres at 1.13 g/t gold from 199 metres, including 9 metres at 3.01 g/t from 217 metres, and 16 metres at 0.49 g/t from 342 metres; and
- 0.9 metres at 12.6 g/t from 475.1 metres and 17 metres at 1.10 g/t from 537 metres, including 2 metres at 5.25 g/t from 539 metres, and 27 metres at 1.08 g/t from 573 metres, including 9 metres at 2.33 g/t from 585 metres.
Further drilling from surface and underground from the newly developed exploration drive is planned in early 2023 to estimate a maiden gold resource for McLeans.
Confidence in mine life
Alkane managing director Nic Earner said: “It is pleasing to see the exploration targets around Tomingley yielding results.
“Of particular interest is the steadily growing McLeans prospect, as this is located adjacent to our existing exploration drive and could readily be added to our production schedule should it prove economic.
“It gives us continued confidence in a mine life at Tomingley that could extend well beyond 2030, we look forward to receiving the project approval that will let this development become a reality.”
McLeans was further drill tested by eight aircore drill holes, two reverse circulation (RC) drill holes and two diamond drill holes for a total of 2,269 metres, targeting mineralisation along strike and down dip of previous drilling.
Other prospects
Alkane also carried out drill testing at the recently discovered Plains Prospect, which is 1-kilometre southeast of the Roswell Deposit and within the proposed extension to the Mining Lease.
This delineated mineralisation over a 500-metre strike length beneath shallow alluvium cover of 15 metres and returned results of:
- 4 metres at 0.96 g/t gold from 102 metres and 4 metres at 3.15 g/t from 276 metres;
- 6 metres at 0.80 g/t from 26 metres and 10 metres at 1.59 g/t from 61 metres, including 3 metres at 4.18 g/t from 64 metres, and 4 metres at 1.37 g/t from 178 metres;
- 13 metres at 0.91 g/t from 42 metres;
- 15 metres at 0.60 g/t from 43 metres; and
- 3 metres at 2.41 g/t from 54 metres.
Mud-rotary diamond core and aircore drilling have mapped a Roswell-type andesite over 600 metres in length and 60 metres thick, hosting gold mineralisation with a best result of 6 metres at 1.36 g/t gold from 88 metres including 2.9 metres at 2.40 g/t from 88 metres.
Dependent on access, RC drilling is planned to target the southern section of El Paso, where significant gold mineralisation has been intersected previously.
2D seismic survey
A 2D seismic survey was also completed over the extended mining area to investigate the regional structural setting of the Tomingley gold corridor.
Interpretation of the survey results suggests a setting to the orogenic gold mineralisation that is a series of overlapping rock slices separated by steeply inclined subparallel reverse faults and bounded above and below by major low angle thrust surfaces(an imbricate thrust). This has highlighted several new target zones.
About Tomingley
Tomingley Gold Project covers an area of about 440 square kilometres stretching 60 kilometres north-south along the Newell Highway from Tomingley in the north, through Peak Hill and almost to Parkes in the south.
The project contains Alkane’s currently operating TGO, an open pit mine and underground operation with a 1 million tonnes per annum processing facility.
Over the past four years Alkane has conducted an extensive regional exploration program that led to the definition of mineral resources at the Roswell (904,000 ounces) and San Antonio $406,000 ounces) prospects.
Alkane is developing an exploration drive from the Wyoming One deposit to Roswell, with the drive now about 350 metres north of the Roswell deposit.
The company has prepared preliminary plans for open-cut and underground mines beneath Roswell and San Antonio.
These plans formed the basis for the application for project approval that Alkane lodged with the NSW Government. The Environmental Impact Statement has been through public display with all submissions now responded to by Alkane with approval expected before year-end.
Weather hampers drilling
Regional exploration drilling has continued whenever possible between extended periods of sustained wet weather in the region.
Exploration is expected to return to normal activity in early 2023 focusing on McLeans, Plains and El Paso prospects that are all within 7 kilometres of the TGO processing facility.
Drilling will also commence from underground on the Roswell north extensions as the exploration drive approaches this area.