Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has established the potential for resource growth at the Mandilla Gold Project in Western Australia with strong gold results from the latest drilling at the Theia, Hestia and Eos prospects.
Two diamond drill holes at Theia returned assays of better than 200-gram metres of gold across the length of the holes while two reverse circulation (RC) extensional holes at Hestia demonstrated that mineralisation extends up and down dip.
At Eos, Astral encountered more gold in RC drilling, with a further 4,500 metres of aircore drilling planned to test for extensions of the Eos paleochannel deposit.
Results highlight growth potential
“The strong diamond drill results at Theia keep on coming, boosting our confidence that the growth potential of the mineral resource has considerable upside,” Astral Resources managing director Marc Ducler said.
“The Theia deposit is already one of the largest undeveloped gold resources in the Kalgoorlie region and the tremendous technical work our team continues to deliver is only improving the quality of the project.”
Astral has so far produced a mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 30 million tonnes at 1.1 g/t gold for some 1.03 million ounces of gold at the Mandilla Project, with an MRE update on the horizon.
Pursuing scoping study later this year
“Diamond drill holes MDRCD734 and MDRCD735 returned 201-gram metres and 225-gram metres respectively, supporting the potential for continued growth in resources at Mandilla as we have consistently been able to demonstrate over the last 2 years,” Ducler continued.
“RC drilling at Theia, Hestia and Eos also returned positive assay results which should also contribute healthily to the greater Mandilla project.”
The company has completed some 26,000 metres of RC and diamond drilling at Mandilla this year, the data from which will contribute to an MRE update, targeted for the September quarter this year.
“Open pit optimisations, detailed mine design and mine scheduling will then follow and we expect to release the Mandilla Project Scoping Study in the second half of 2023,” Ducler said.
“Astral believes the scoping study will demonstrate Mandilla to have the potential to be a profitable long-life gold mine, with considerable opportunity for upside growth.
“Planning is already well underway for additional drilling commencing early in the September quarter.
“Astral Resources remains on track to demonstrate Mandilla’s potential as a significant standalone gold operation in the Kalgoorlie/Kambalda region of WA and one of the few high-quality resources remaining in the hands of a junior gold explorer.”
Theia assay results
Hole MDRCD734 at Theia reported over 200-gram metres of gold mineralisation over the length of the hole. Best results included:
- 14 metres at 2.65 g/t gold from 215 metres including 0.3 metres at 100.9 g/t from 223 metres and 0.35 metres at 11 g/t from 225.35 metres;
- 21 metres at 1.37 g/t from 275 metres including 0.7 metres at 17.97 g/t from 278.5 metres and 0.3 metres at 17.02 g/t from 283 metres;
- 11.7 metres at 1.02 g/t from 315 metres; and
- 24 metres at 2.60 g/t from 339 metres including 0.4 metres at 125.15 g/t from 358.2 metres.
- 12 metres at 1.84 g/t gold from 193 metres including 1.05 metres at 19.04 g/t from 212.9 metres;
- 8.9 metres at 6.27 g/t from 212.45 metres including 0.3 metres at 176.1 g/t from 212.9 metres;
- 57.6 metres at 0.70 g/t from 228.9 metres including 0.55 metres at 19.7 g/t from 277.85 metres;
- 20.6 metres at 0.93 g/t from 337.9 metres including 0.5 metres at 26.21 g/t from 349 metres; and
- 57 metres at 1.36 g/t from 367 metres including 0.35 metres at 136.0 g/t from 418.8 metres.
- 2 metres at 6.99 g/t gold from 48 metres including 1-metre at 11.23 g/t from 48 metres in MDRC762;
- 20 metres at 1.04 g/t from 41 metres in MDRC763;
- 2 metres at 3.53 g/t from 93 metres and 22 metres at 0.73 g/t from 102 metres in MDRC764; and
- 2 metres at 5.62 g/t from 19 metres including 1-metre at 10.06 g/t from 19 metres in MDRC769.
Drilling at Hestia was designed to extend a mineralised section of drilling up and down dip, with both drill holes intersecting strong gold mineralisation. Best results included:
- 18 metres at 0.66 g/t gold from 30 metres and 1-metre at 4.66 g/t from 69 metres in MDRC771; and
- 5 metres at 0.88 g/t from 166 metres and 10 metres at 2.24 g/t from 178 metres in MDRC772.
Additional RC drilling was completed at Eos to follow up the previous fresh rock drill result of 26 metres at 0.69 g/t gold reported April 24, 2023, with best results including:
- 2 metres at 4.65 g/t gold from 42 metres and 6 metres at 0.90 g/t from 130 metres in MDRC778;
- 34 metres at 0.90 g/t from 82 metres in MDRC779; and
- 8 metres at 0.80 g/t from 86 metres in MDRC780.