Assay results from reverse circulation (RC) drilling by Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) at the Theia deposit within its Mandilla Gold Project in Western Australia demonstrate strong continuity of mineralisation and will support an upgraded mineral resource estimate (MRE).
“The recent 70-hole, 6,512-metre infill drill program at Theia was designed to ensure that the stage 1 and stage 2 pits, as contemplated in the Mandilla scoping study, had the necessary drill density to satisfy the requirement for the mineral resources in this area to be classified as indicated,” Astral managing director Marc Ducler said.
“The assay results from this program will support that outcome.”
Strong assays
The purpose of the program was to infill the stage 1 and stage 2 pits to a drill density of roughly 40 metres x 20 metres with a view to upgrading the inferred mineral resources envisaged in the September 2023 scoping study to the indicated category.
The assay results included:
- 8 metres at 1.82 g/t gold from 29 metres and 33 metres at 1.82 g/t from 64 metres, including 2 metres at 25.9 g/t from 90 metres;
- 10 metres at 5.33 g/t from 38 metres including 1 metre at 37.5 g/t;
- 29 metres at 0.67 g/t from 25 metres and 17 metres at 1.37 g/t from 64 metres including 1 metre at 14.9 g/t; and
- 1 metre at 223 g/t gold from 15 metres.
Increasing the pace
“As we move into the December quarter, far from slowing down ahead of Christmas, we are increasing our exploration and drilling effort on multiple fronts in order to advance the Mandilla PFS as quickly as possible,” said Ducler.
The Mandilla Gold Project includes the Theia, Iris, Eos and Hestia deposits and hosts a MRE of 37 million tonnes at 1.1 g/t of gold for 1.27 million ounces of contained gold.
“Our attention at Mandilla is now turning to an infill RC program at Iris, for which 90% of the mineral resource is currently categorised as inferred.
“This program will focus on the higher-grade portion of the Iris deposit. If this program is successful, further drilling will be undertaken.”
Iris infill drilling
The RC rig has been relocated to complete a 20-hole, 3,579 metre infill program at the Iris deposit to support its inclusion in the upcoming pre-feasibility study (PFS).
Once this program is complete, a 16-hole (2,540-metre) extensional drill program will be undertaken to test for extensions to the fresh rock gold mineralisation at the Eos deposit.
“Additionally, four RC pre-collars have been completed at Theia ahead of the expected arrival of a diamond drill rig in late October which will complete four diamond tail in-fill tests to feed into an updated Theia MRE," Ducler said.
Kamperman deposit
Astral also recently completed a 34-hole, 3,750-metre extensional and infill RC drill program at the satellite Kamperman deposit, with assay results pending.
“This program targeted extensions to the north and northeast of the currently interpreted mineralised envelope," he said. "If this drilling is successful in extending the mineralised envelope, then a significant infill program will be required.”
Feysville Project
Ducler added, “The update to the Feysville mineral resource is expected shortly. This will kick off several technical work streams at Feysville aimed at collecting the necessary data to allow development of Feysville’s gold deposits as part of the Mandilla PFS.
“This is an exciting time for the company following the strongly supported institutional capital raise completed in late September.
“Astral now has the balance sheet strength to accelerate our exploration efforts at both Mandilla and Feysville and complete the necessary project studies as we advance towards becoming a plus 100,000oz pa gold producer in the heart of the Kalgoorlie Goldfields.”
Astral Resources’ Mandilla and Feysville gold projects.