Aurumin Ltd (ASX:AUN) has delivered further positive results from its April reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the 100%-owned, 881,000-ounce gold Central Sandstone Project in Western Australia.
The April drilling campaign tested seven new open pit targets at the project, with first-pass exploration drilling, and aimed to extend two open pit resources.
This campaign was a success with four of the seven new targets returning positive results.
Extensional drilling returned a bonanza result at Plum Pudding deposit of 18 metres at 25.8 g/t gold from 30 metres including 2 metres at 215.2 g/t from 43 metres. The 18-metre intersection included 2 metres of unexpected void.
"Great results"
Aurumin managing director Brad Valiukas said: “We have had great results from the April drilling campaign. Testing new targets, we achieved significant results at four out of the seven targets, and the final split (1-metre) results further support this.
“Additionally, we received a bonanza result with extensional drilling at Plum Pudding, with a top assay of 344 g/t and an unexpected void, likely old workings.
“We remain focused on generating the critical mass required for future production at our Sandstone Operations, targeting additional open pit material to support an operational restart.
High-grade hits
Results of the final split sample, taken at 1-metre intervals and sent to the ALS laboratories in Perth for analysis, include:
Mt Klempt South - new target:
- 2 metres at 11.02 g/t gold from 16 metres, 1 metre at 1.20 g/t from 22 metres and 2 metres at 1.24 g/t from 34 metres;
- 3 metres at 1.26 g/t from 51 metres; and
- 2 metres at 3.69 g/t from 44 metres.
Two Mile Hill West - new target:
- 1 metre at 3.87 g/t gold from 71 metres; and
- 3 metres at 2.19 g/t from 77 metres.
Old Town Trend - new target:
- 2 metres at 3.44 g/t gold from 37 metres and 2 metres at 1.03 g/t from 45 metres; and
- 1 metres at 1.97 g/t from 42 metres.
As well as the 18-metre result from Plum Pudding, extensional drilling also returned 7 metres at 1.48 g/t gold from 71 metres.
Aurumin has also reported further soil sampling results, with positive returns from E57/1140, and has generated several new targets and outlined drilling plans for multiple targets.
A view to restarting production
Aurumin’s drilling plans include follow-up from recent success at Plum Pudding and other mining lease targets as well as stepping out to the prospective Birrigrin and Dandaraga projects.
The company has RC drilling planned across multiple targets with around 35 holes and 3,000 metres of drilling planned across six areas. The drilling contractor and last permits are now being finalised.
Aurumin has also planned aircore drilling at several areas for wider coverage, with approximately 75 holes and 5,000 metres across three areas in the pipeline.
For the first time for Aurumin at Sandstone, the drilling campaign will step out to regional projects and prospects. This includes the Birrigrin Project which has a history of high-grade production up to 196 g/t of gold and 39 mapped shafts; and the Dandaraga Prospect, which has historical workings and is highly prospective.
“This next round of drilling will look to expand the existing resource at Plum Pudding, flesh out some of the confirmed new targets on the mining leases and step further afield to the Birrigrin Project and Dandaraga Prospect to target some potential higher-grade sweeteners,” said Valiukas.
“We are spoilt for choice with prospective drilling targets and we look forward to this quarter’s drilling and continuing to advance the project, with drilling expected to commence in August.”
This work is part of the company’s Sandstone Operations, which include the Central Sandstone Project as well as the Birrigrin and Johnson Range projects and has a total resource of 946,000 ounces of gold.
The company is actively working towards building open pit inventory to support a restart of gold production.