- DD further demonstrates significant deep resource growth potential
- Broad zones of mineralisation intersected within and below mineral resource shell
- Mineralisation intersected correlates with current Inferred mineral resources
- Nine holes completed with program further increased to 12 holes
Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) has identified deep potential with further results from its expanded diamond drilling campaign at the Theia deposit, part of the Mandilla gold project south of Kalgoorlie in WA.
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The company has received assay results for a further two diamond drill-holes completed as part the expanded 12-hole (7,500m) DD program at the Theia deposit.
The drilling program is designed to test for depth extensions at Theia below the current mineral resource estimate (MRE) and to determine the potential broader scale of the mineral system.
MD, Marc Ducler, said in light of the success of the program to date, and the significant additional mineralisation encountered thus far, additional holes have been planned to convert this new gold mineralisation into Inferred resources.
“The Theia Deeps drill program continues to demonstrate that Theia has significant growth potential beyond the current resource, while also confirming mineralisation within the current pit shell,” Mr Ducler said.
He pointed to the latest results from hole AMRCD260 which have confirmed the Inferred mineral resources towards the base of the current optimised pit shell with an intersection of 52.6m at 1.48 grams per tonne (g/t) from 389.4m.
That hole continued well below the current mineral resource demonstrating significant extensional potential at depth with intercepts of 7.0m at 5.22 g/t gold from 583.0m and 43.86m at 0.87 g/t gold from 605.0m.
“Additionally, hole AMRCD376 – for which assays are pending and which is located 170m to the east of AMRCD260 on the same section – is visually encouraging with broad zones of alteration typical of the Theia gold mineralisation system (quartz, abundant sulphides, and visible gold logged extensively through the hole), providing encouragement that gold mineralisation may extend further at depth.”
Further south, hole AMRCD261 has also demonstrated potential for growth at Theia, returning an intercept of 54.0m at 2.38 g/t go from 316.0m, with this newly identified mineralisation located outside the April 2026 mineral resource shell.
“It is important to note that this hole ended in mineralisation, with visible gold observed on the non-sample side of the core at 603.33m,” Mr Ducler told shareholders.
Hole AMRCD262, which is located 50m to the east on the same section as AMRCD261, has also intersected a significant zone of quartz, sulphides and visible gold, extending from inside the base of the pit for a potential 235m vertical extension. Assays for this hole are pending.
AAR is down 4.35% to 11.0c. Mkt cap $207.1M.
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