Aston Minerals debuts 1.5Moz gold resource for Edleston

Aston Minerals (ASX: ASO) has debuted a maiden 1.5-million-ounce gold resource for its Edleston project in Canada.

The resource covers the Edleston Main and Sirola prospects and represents only 2km of the 10km prospective strike, with multiple anomalies along this corridor remaining untested.

All-up the global resource totals 48.1 million tonnes at 1 gram per tonne gold for 1.5Moz of contained metal.

Within this, 14Mt at 0.9g/t gold for 400,200oz is classified as indicated with the remainder inferred.

Aston managing director Dale Ginn said the maiden gold resource was a “major milestone” for the company.

“Within less than two years we have delineated a substantial gold mineral resource across Edleston Main and Sirola.”

“A significant proportion of the Edleston Main resource is within the indicated categorisation reflecting the strong continuity of broad mineralisation and will underpin future development studies.”

Mr Ginn said the company was “evaluating opportunities” to monetise the gold resource and other non-core assets within its portfolio.

Maiden nickel-cobalt resource to follow

While Edleston is prospective for gold, Aston is focused on the nickel and cobalt mineralisation identified across this landholding, which is 60km south of the town of Timmins in Ontario and close to former and current producers.

As a result, Aston says it has access to a skilled workforce. The project is also next to a direct road and has hydroelectric power.

Resource calculation is underway for the B2 and Bardwell nickel-cobalt prospects at the project. Mr Ginn says B2 has generated “very encouraging” modelling and the company has decided to include it in the maiden estimate.

“The B2 prospect has sufficient continuity and grade characteristics to be included in the maiden mineral resource estimate in conjunction with Bardwell.”

“Most importantly, the addition of B2 provides a significant scale increase.”

Mr Ginn said the maiden nickel-cobalt resource will be released later this month.

Drilling at Bardwell has covered 2,000m of strike and includes the Boomerang target, which is believed 6km in length.

A highlight intercept from the prospect was 164m at 0.52% nickel. Metallurgical test work on the ore generated a saleable nickel-cobalt concentrate grading 11.29% nickel and 0.37% cobalt.