Barton Gold (ASX: BGD) has completed a major reverse circulation drilling program at the Tunkillia project in South Australia, including the newly-defined Area 51 target.
The total program saw the completion of 45 holes for a total 11,840 metres.
The final phase included 10 holes for 2,118m at Area 51, where drilling last May confirmed a 500m-long gold zone with broad intersections including 17m at 3.2 grams per tonne gold from 77m and 45m at 0.92g/t gold from 97m.
The company also completed three preliminary test holes for 510m at the extensional 223 South target from a 9,212m drilling campaign, identifying multiple 20m-thick (down hole) depth extensions of known mineralisation and new gold zones in previously untested areas.
Pleased with the program
Barton managing director Alex Scanlon is pleased with how the major drilling program was carried out.
“Our team has done an excellent job and momentum is building with thick new gold zones confirmed at 223 Deposit,” he said.
“We are looking forward to publishing an updated resource estimate and getting back into the field with large-scale follow-up programs targeting further growth during 2023 at Tunkillia and Tarcoola.”
Barton recently finished a 2,201m diamond drilling program at 223 Deposit and Area 51.
Assays are expected to be received during over the coming months, with an updated mineral resource estimate for 223 Deposit scheduled for April.
The estimate will be followed up with further drilling targeting “low hanging fruit” as Tunkillia advances toward feasibility studies.
Barton’s investment
Barton is the first company to invest significantly in the Tunkillia project area since before 2008, when the gold price was below US$800 per ounce (A$1,146/oz).
The project’s total mineralised footprint has grown over the past 24 months through the discovery of the 223 North, Area 191 and Area 51 gold zones.
Area 51 represents a 4km step-out of Tunkillia’s mineralised footprint.
Over the past 20 years, there has been limited drilling completed outside 223 Deposit.
The Tunkillia project has a mineral resource estimate of 26.1 million tonnes grading 1.15g/t gold for 965,000oz.
