Demonstrating the growth potential at its Eos deposit within the Mandilla Gold Project in Western Australia, Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has returned the best bedrock gold intersection to date of 6 metres at 5.57 g/t from 48 metres in a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program.
Results highlight the potential for a shallow primary gold resource in addition to the expanding paleochannel deposit sitting above the Archaean rocks.
The company’s 11-hole reverse circulation (RC) and 37-hole aircore drill program at the Eos deposit was designed to extend the Eos Palaeochannel mineralisation to the south and test for primary Archaean gold mineralisation below the palaeochannel to the east of known mineralisation.
The RC program delivered two significant bedrock results including:
- 4 metres at 3.22 g/t gold from 38 metres and 6 metres at 5.57 g/t; and
- 3 metres at 2.81 g/t from 57 metres and 19 metres at 0.65 g/t.
Meanwhile, 14 of the 37 aircore holes ended in mineralisation, demonstrating that more bedrock upside remains.
Further exploration work is warranted given the extension of the palaeochannel position and the expansion of the primary gold mineralisation footprint at Eos, highlighting the potential to increase the current 48,000-ounce mineral resource estimate.
“Delivered on both fronts!”
Astral managing director Marc Ducler said: “The Eos aircore and RC drill program was designed to extend the Eos Palaeochannel mineralisation to the south and test for primary Archaean gold mineralisation below the palaeochannel to the east of known mineralisation.
“The program has delivered on both fronts! With RC drilling demonstrating the presence of primary gold mineralisation beneath transported cover coupled with 14 of 37 aircore holes ending in mineralisation, a growing footprint of bedrock gold mineralisation is clearly evident at Eos.
“The high-grade central channel of the Eos Palaeochannel was previously extended by 90 metres by aircore drilling as announced on August 30, 2023.
“This latest program extends the high-grade central channel by a further 120 metres to over 600 metres in total strike which remains open to the south.“
Forward plan
Assay results for the six-hole (1,832 metres) diamond drill program targeting extensions at the Theia deposit at Mandilla are expected early next quarter.
Ducler adds: “A small program of diamond drilling is now required for Eos to gain a better insight into the nature and possible structural controls of the primary gold mineralisation in this area.
“This will occur in 2024 when our drill schedule best allows.
“A three-hole diamond program following up on previous high-grade RC drilling has recently been completed at the Kamperman Prospect.
“Preparations are now underway for a 2,500 metre RC program at the same prospect, likely to commence early in the March quarter 2024.
“This will further evaluate the high-grade gold potential of the exciting Kamperman Prospect.”