Pantoro Ltd (ASX:PNR) has begun phase two of an exploration drilling program, targeting the high-grade Mainfield mining centre with extensional drilling intended to expand the Norseman Gold Project’s current mineral resource of 4.8 million ounces and ore reserve of 973,000 ounces.
The Western Australian-based company achieved first gold pour at Norseman last week and is not resting on its laurels, moving to exploration at the Mainfield South area.
Drilling has concentrated on ore blocks on the Mararoa Reef known as Butterfly South, the cross-linking Royal Standard reef, and previously untested structures to the northwest.
The Mainfield mining centre historically produced about 3 million ounces of gold at grades above 11 g/t.
Pantoro believes there are still multiple cross-linking structures within the underground complex that are prospective for high-grade gold, backed up by recent drilling results, which included:
- 2 metres at 13.25 g/t gold;
- 3 metres at 11.05 g/t;
- 5.0 metres at 9.82 g/t including 1-metre at 35.8 g/t;
- 1-metre at 22.7 g/t;
- 4.0 metres at 5.60 g/t; and
- 2.0 metres at 6.03 g/t.
Raising average mill head grade
“With operations at Norseman now underway, Pantoro has continued with its strategy of identifying additional ore to continue to grow the mine's ore reserve,” Pantoro managing director Paul Cmrlec said.
“Additional high-grade ore sources are of particular interest with a view to increasing mill head grade and therefore gold production from the processing facility as new mines are able to be developed.
“The current focus at the southern end of the Mainfield fits the bill and has the advantage of relatively easy access via the existing Viking Decline, which was developed at a suitable size for current underground mining fleet requirements.”
Plan view of drilling results over the Mararoa Reef in the Norseman Gold Project in WA.
Pantoro’s drilling campaign is ongoing in the area, with follow-up reverse circulation drilling and some limited diamond core tails in progress to follow up on results of interest.
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