Torque Metals Ltd (ASX:TOR) has completed another phase of infill and extensional diamond drilling at its wholly-owned flagship Paris Gold Project in the Goldfields region of West Australia.
Paris is a shallow, high-grade, high-recovery (>96%) gold project close to processing infrastructure and surrounded by established gold producers such as Goldfields, Westgold and Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST).
Torque is undertaking an ~8,000-metre exploration campaign with ~1,000 metres of diamond and ~7,000 metres of RC drilling focused on unlocking more high-grade gold from the project ahead of its imminent maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE).
Diamond drilling completed
Torque has completed the diamond drill phase, comprising 1,106 metres across the Paris and HHH prospects, with four holes for 1,006 metres at Paris and one hole for 100 metres at HHH.
The objective of the program was to infill and extend high-grade mineralisation while obtaining structural, geotechnical and density information to enhance and inform Torque’s maiden MRE.
While the core samples are now at the laboratory with assay results expected later this month, Paris look-alike mineralisation style is evident in these holes.
RC drilling imminent
Torque is now preparing a complementary reverse circulation (RC) drilling phase of around 7,000 metres, targeting the Paris and HHH systems.
These zones have already demonstrated strong potential, with previous drilling intersecting significant mineralisation, such as 35 metres at 14.12 g/t gold from 157.85 metres.
The Eva prospect — a recent discovery between Paris and HHH prospects — also returned promising results, including 16 metres at 4.19 g/t gold from 66 metres.
Torque is now fine-tuning the RC program, with the Program of Works (POW) approved and the rig to be mobilised this coming week.
Exploration continues
Torque managing director Cristian Moreno said: “Torque has successfully completed its next 1,106 metres of diamond drilling at its Paris Gold Project, targeting both infill and extension of high-grade mineralisation. Core samples are now at the laboratory, with assay results anticipated within the next few weeks.
“Additionally, the company is poised to kick off a 7,000-metre RC drilling program currently being optimised with its Program of Works (POW) already approved. As we near the finalisation of our maiden mineral resource later this quarter, these results will build on an enhanced Paris gold resource.
“Concurrently, soil sampling is underway across previously unexplored targets, outside of the MRE zone, with results expected by mid-September. The remainder of 2024 promises to be an exciting period for Torque, with multiple key updates on the horizon.”
Looking ahead
Torque advises that its maiden MRE is progressing well, with the pending drill results expected to enhance the overall value of the Paris Gold prospect.
The company expects future news to focus on:
- The infill and extensional RC drill campaign — ~7,000 metres between HHH and Paris lodes;
- Diamond drill results from ~1,106 metres of drilling;
- RC drill results from ~7,000 metres of drilling;
- Torque’s maiden MRE at Paris Gold Project;
- Soils campaign results on recently acquired tenements; and
- Paris Gold Project exploration target.