Results of diamond drilling by Astral (JO:ARLJ) Resources NL (ASX:AAR) at the company’s Mandilla Gold Project near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia are expected to support an upgrade of the current inferred mineral resource estimate (MRE).
The Mandilla Gold Project is in the northern Widgiemooltha greenstone belt, in an area that hosts world-class deposits such as Northern Star Resources’ Golden Mile Super Pit in Kalgoorlie and Gold Fields’ St Ives Gold Mine south of Kambalda, as well as the substantial Beta Hunt Gold Mine owned by Westgold Resources.
Astral’s Mandilla Project includes the Theia, Iris, Eos and Hestia deposits.
Mandilla Gold Project on local area geology.
The first two infill diamond drill holes (MDRCD919A and MDRCD920A) at the Theia deposit each ended in gold mineralisation at around 450 metres down-hole, providing further evidence that this deposit remains open at depth.
The best results in MDRCD919A include 28 metres at 2.63 g/t gold from 149 metres including 0.5 metres at 115.7 g/t from 152.3 metres and 0.3 metres at 20.3 g/t from 173 metres.
The best results in MDRCD920A include 8.9 metres at 1.04 g/t gold from 86.3 metres and 15.3 metres at 0.78 g/t from 99.3 metres including 0.4 metres at 20.9 g/t.
Longitudinal projection through Theia illustrating drill trace, assay results and geological interpretation.
Expected to support MRE upgrade
“The four-hole diamond drill program completed in December aimed to convert the deeper inferred mineral resources at Theia to the higher confidence indicated category,” Astral Resources managing director Marc Ducler said.
“The drill holes were designed to intersect the mineralising quartz vein sets at Theia on a slightly oblique angle, with this orientation allowing us to test a larger portion of the deposit with each hole, making for a cost-effective drilling approach.
“Given this orientation, we were expecting to see several intersections down the length of each drill hole which, when aggregated, the mineralised sections have returned 172 gram-metres and 199 gram-metres in holes MDRCD919A and MDRCD920A respectively.
“Pleasingly, the intersections appear to conform well to the current MRE, giving us belief that we will see increases in the higher confidence indicated category when the MRE is updated during the March quarter.
Assay results for the final two diamond drill holes (MDRCD917 and MDRCD918) are expected to be reported later this month. Based on observations from drill-hole logging, the company is confident that similar results will be achieved.
Ongoing drilling
Additionally, Astral has received assay results for a 16-hole (2,558-metre) extensional reverse circulation (RC) drill program testing for the presence of fresh rock gold mineralisation at the project’s Eos Deposit.
The program at Eos has identified shallow south to southwest dipping vein sets which host the gold mineralisation. These are of a similar style (narrow quartz veining hosted by porphyritic granitoid) to those present at Theia.
Results included 14 metres at 2.50 g/t gold from 46 metres, 10 metres at 1.04 g/t from 100 metres and 2 metres at 4.09 g/t from 154 metres.
“The RC drilling at Eos, designed to test for extensions to the fresh rock mineralisation to the northeast of the Eos Palaeochannel, also delivered several mineralised gold intercepts which indicate significant further potential to the north in an area not previously drilled,” Ducler said.
A water bore rig was mobilised to site in early January 2025 to drill five holes for 650 metres at Mandilla, followed by eight holes for 900 metres at Feysville.
The program will assist in determining the dewatering requirements which will feed into the Mandilla Gold Project PFS, which is on track for completion in the June quarter.
Kamperman deposit, Feysville
Astral also advised that assay results for a single line of infill RC drilling, comprising three holes for 360 metres to test the southern extent of the gold mineralisation at the Kamperman deposit at the Feysville Gold Project, are also expected to be reported later this month.
The company expects to commence diamond and aircore drilling at Feysville this month.
Mandilla and Feysville gold projects.
Ramping up for big 2025
Ducler added, “We commenced hydrogeological drilling for our PFS at Mandilla on January 5, 2025, while diamond drilling at Kamperman is planned from January and aircore drilling on regional targets at Feysville is expected to commence shortly afterwards.
“RC drilling at Feysville is currently planned to recommence at the start of February 2025.
“All in all, the Astral team is ramping up to deliver a big 2025!”