- 01Theia Deeps: 31m at 13.5g/t gold; peak 1,146.3g/t.
- 02Drilling extends mineralisation below 1.4Moz Theia deposit.
- 03Infill drilling targets an inferred resource update.
Astral Resources (ASX: AAR) has delivered the highest grades on record within wide zones of mineralisation in diamond drilling at the Theia Deeps prospect within its Mandilla gold project in Western Australia.
The campaign, which is testing depth extensions of the cornerstone 1.4-million-ounce Theia deposit, has been expanded on several occasions to comprise a total 25 holes for 13,400 metres.
Significant depth extensions have been identified, with the company now focused on in-filling these to a drill spacing suitable for supporting an inferred mineral resource estimate as part of a Theia resource update.
Best assays from three holes completed to date have been 31m at 13.5 grams per tonne gold from 288m including 0.34m at a bonanza 1,146.3g/t from 305.57m, 1.97m at 7.65g/t gold from 359.83m, and 2m at 16.5g/t gold from 434m.
World-Class Location
The Mandilla project comprises the Theia, Iris, Eos, and Hestia deposits in a region hosting world-class discoveries including the Golden Mile super pit owned by Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST), Gold Fields’ St Ives gold mine, and Westgold Resources’ (ASX: WGX) Beta Hunt gold mine.
Gold mineralisation at Theia and Iris is comprised of structurally controlled quartz vein arrays and hydrothermal alteration, close to the western margin of the Emu Rocks Granite and locally in contact with sediments of the Spargoville Group.
Significant northwest to west-northwest-trending structures along the western flank of the project have interpreted from aeromagnetic data to cut through the granitic intrusion are considered important in localising gold mineralisation at Theia, which has a strike length of more than 1.6 kilometres.
Mandilla hosts a mineral resource estimate of 53.5 million tonnes grading 1g/t for 1.74Moz, with metallurgical tests demonstrating high gravity recoverable gold, fast leach kinetics, and strong overall recoveries with low reagent consumptions and coarse grinding.
Significant Gold Endowment
Managing director Marc Ducler said drilling had reinforced the significant endowment of the Theia mineral system and the potential to grow the current resource.
“The Theia Deeps campaign has delivered some exceptionally high-grade individual assays, along with broad zones of gold mineralisation,” he said.
“The visual logging of quartz veining and visible gold in one of the latest holes has combined to indicate another strong result.”
“Our focus has now switched to in-filling within the main gold mineralisation ore shoot, and a further four holes have been added to the program to achieve a 60m x 60m drill density and support the potential declaration of inferred resources at depth.”
“Looking ahead, we have a phased 55-hole reverse circulation campaign for 10,000m program at the Spiders deposit at the Spargoville project set to commence in the new year once the Theia infill program is completed, and the diamond rig will be moved to the Kamperman discovery at Feysville for a six-hole exploration and geotechnical program before year end.”
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