Barton Gold (ASX: BGD) has extended the known strike to 700m at the Area 51 prospect, which is 3.5km northwest of the cornerstone 223 deposit within its Tunkillia project in South Australia.
The company has now received assays from three diamond drill holes that were completed at Area 51 in January and February.
One hole intercepted 28.55m at 1.32 grams per tonne gold from 91.45m and 25m at 0.75g/t gold from 125m.
The other two holes uncovered 6m at 1.99g/t gold from 140m and 20m at 0.7g/t gold from 163m.
These new assays have extended the known strike of Area 51 from 500m to 700m, and mineralisation remains open to the north and south.
Within Area 51, drilling has delineated a “significant core” hosting in excess of 40 gram metres.
Area 51 was discovered in May last year with September 2022 drilling in the higher grade core hitting 17m at 3.2g/t gold from 77m.
The company is still awaiting assays for 10 reverse circulation holes undertaken at Area 51 in January and February.
Potential for further discoveries
Commenting on the Area 51 results, Barton managing director Alex Scanlon said the indication of another gold system at the prospect underscores the potential for more discoveries across the wider project, which covers the prospective Yarlbrinda Shear Zone.
Mr Scanlon says the Yarlbrinda Shear Zone hosts 20km of strike that is yet to be drill tested.
Tunkillia’s cornerstone 223 deposit has a current resource of 965,000 ounces of contained gold and Mr Scanlon noted despite its discovery in 1996 there has been limited investigation until Barton took ownership.
Recent drilling at 223 deposit identified potential to add to the existing resource, where an update is anticipated during the current quarter.
“We have already confirmed depth extensions along 800m of the 223 deposit’s strike, a higher-grade core, and three new satellite gold zones.”
“We are excited to keep working our way along the next 20km of untouched shear.”
