Torque Metals Ltd (ASX:TOR) has received highly encouraging initial results of up to 22.15 metres at 12.14 g/t gold from diamond drilling at the Paris Gold Project in the heart of the Western Australia Goldfields demonstrating that mineralisation extends up dip into shallower zones.
The company has described the results from four of the six holes in the recently completed 1,105-metre diamond drill program as spectacular with the 22.15-metre intersection including 2.15 metres at 16.79 g/t from 195.65 metres and 2.7 metres at 82.45 g/t from 206.4 metres.
Results enhance optimism
These results provide strong encouragement for Torque as a reverse circulation drill program forges ahead at the project, comprising ~7,000 metres of drilling across the high-grade mineralised zone west of the Paris prospect.
They also come as the company is completing a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for Paris which is expected to be delivered in the next few weeks.
While the results will not be included in this MRE, they provide optimism for future resource growth.
“Impressive intervals”
Managing director Cristian Moreno said: “The first four holes of our recent six-hole diamond drill program at the Paris Gold Project have delivered impressive intervals, particularly from hole 2024PDD005. This hole intercepted 22.15 metres at 12.14 g/t gold from 188.27 metres, including 2.15 metres at 16.79 g/t gold, and another 2.7 metres at 82.45 g/t gold.
“Hole 2024PDD004 intercepted shallow mineralisation extending into shallower zones, confirming the continuity of high-grade with 4.05 metres at 4.79 g/t gold from 89.87 metres and 9.33 metres at 4.66 g/t gold from 109.07 metres down hole.”
Other results from the diamond drilling are:
- 2.72 metres at 1.11 g/t gold from 97.78 metres and 1.54 metres at 1.18 g/t from 110.78 metres in hole 2024PDD003; and
- 4.50 metres at 5.19 g/t from 94 metres, including 1.25 metres at 13.52 g/t from 94.75 metres in hole 2024PDD002.
Assays are expected in the coming weeks from the remaining two holes of the six-hole program.
Ongoing RC drilling
The structural data obtained from this drilling is providing valuable insights for the ongoing complementary RC drilling program.
This guidance suggests the potential for even shallower intercepts in current drilling, enhancing the prospect of quickly and cost-effectively growing the shallow gold inventory at Paris.
This work is mainly extensional with a robust focus on the Paris prospect as there are strong indications that mineralisation is not only open at depth but also towards shallower zones.
RC campaign data is also not going to be included in Torque’s upcoming maiden MRE as the resource model is well underway.
“Our RC extensional drill program is progressing well, with more than 7,000 metres of drilling focused on expanding high-grade mineralisation west of the Paris prospect,” Moreno said.
“While these results won't be included in Torque's maiden mineral resource estimate, to be released in the coming weeks, they are crucial for expanding this shallow gold system.”
In prolific region
Paris is a shallow, high-grade, high-recovery (>96%) gold project in proximity to processing infrastructure and surrounded by producers such as Goldfields, Westgold and Northern Star among others.
“Located on existent Mining Licences, near processing infrastructure and surrounded by producers such as Goldfields, Westgold and Northern Star, Paris is well-positioned for development,” Moreno added.
“We eagerly await the upcoming resource estimate, a significant milestone that is demonstrating our commitment to advancing the project and laying a strong foundation for future growth.”
Metallurgical tests
Torque will perform additional metallurgical studies of the core from the current program to enhance its understanding of deposit geochemistry.
Independent Metallurgical Operations Ltd (IMO) oversaw Torque’s initial round of metallurgical testing of core samples from the Paris and Observation prospects in 2023.
Gravity tests identified substantial recoverable gold, constituting 40.7% and 39.9% of the Paris and Observation composites, respectively.
Comminution tests indicated a medium ore hardness, with Bond Ball Work Index values of 13.6 kWh/t for Paris and 9.5 kWh/t for Observation.
Additionally, cyanide leaching achieved impressively high gold recoveries of 96.7% and 99.7% for the Paris and Observation composites, respectively.