Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) has completed a reverse circulation (RC) drill program at its Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Project in the northern Yandal Belt of Western Australia, aimed at testing high-priority gold targets highlighted during a project-wide review.
Drilling tested two prospects with significant gold intercepts in the past, Oblique and New England Granite, which have target footprints in excess of 1.9 kilometres and 4 kilometres, respectively.
Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Project location plan showing key prospects and proximity to processing facilities.
Four holes were drilled as planned at the New England Granite prospect, with all samples sent to the laboratory for analysis.
At the Oblique prospect, 30 kilometres north, nine out of the planned 16 holes were completed while drilling of holes more than 200 metres below surface was impacted by swelling clays and natural cavities.
This affected sample quality and, in some cases, prevented access to the planned depth.
Yandal plans to mobilise a diamond core rig, which is more suited to the ground conditions, to complete the program.
In the meantime, samples from the completed holes have been dispatched to the laboratory.
The gold explorer expects assay results to be available next month.
Pleased with progress
“We’re pleased to have completed drilling at New England Granite and eagerly await the laboratory analysis results,” Yandal Resources managing director Tim Kennedy said.
“Drilling conditions at Oblique provided us with some challenges, so we decided to defer the remainder of the program to ensure we could complete holes to their intended depth and, at the same time, obtain high-quality samples for potential future use in a mineral resource estimate.
“This will most likely require the use of a diamond core rig. We look forward to providing further updates as results are received and plans are finalised to complete the remainder of the program.”
Activities ahead
Yandal expects to complete the rest of its exploration activities by the end of the year, including the unfinished drilling at Oblique.
It also plans to complete an initial mineral resource estimate for the HMS Sulphur Prospect at the Mount McClure project before closing out the year.
As well, the company intends to follow up on priority targets that were highlighted in recent independent geological targeting studies at the Gordons and Ironstone Well-Barwidgee projects.
Finally, a detailed drill program targeting the Gordon Sirdar shear zone is being drawn up and the interpreted extensions will be drill-tested once E27/701 is granted.