Aston Minerals starts drilling for along-strike potential at Edleston
A maiden gold resource for Edleston totals 1.5Moz.
Aston Minerals (ASX: ASO) has kicked-off a drilling program to target along-strike potential of a maiden gold resource at the Edleston Main and Sirola prospects within the Edleston project in Canada.
The 1.5 million ounce resource covers 1.8 kilometres of strike, within identical lithologies with the same geophysical response.
A total of 14 diamond drill holes for 4,800m have been planned to determine the mineralised potential of induced polarisation (IP) chargeability anomalies under shallow transported cover.
The program has been designed to provide an indication of the overall scale of the system immediately along strike from the Sirola resource, which is completely open to the east.
Initial holes will test a step out of 1.9km from Sirola.
Scale potential
Aston managing director Dale Ginn said drilling would identify the scale potential of the asset along strike.
“This dense array of is similar to what we tested at Sirola which resulted in a 906,000oz gold resource across a 790m strike length … we are now following the same trend to the east, in the same lithologies, same structural setting and using the same targeting methodology,” he said.
“The only difference is that we are testing a target over twice the scale of strike length as that of Sirola.”
New assay lab
A new photon laboratory in Quebec has been contracted to conduct assaying with the aim of expediting results.
“One of the challenges we have previously faced is the rate of turnaround time from assay laboratories due to the level of demand for their services,” Mr Ginn said.
“With the recent installation of this photon assay laboratory, we hope to expedite the results from this program which will assist us with drill planning and targeting as the program unfolds.”
Mining heart
Edleston is located near to the mining heart of Ontario and the 1.5Moz gold resource announced in January took less than two years to develop.
The project is close to significant former and current mining operations, as well as skilled labour and infrastructure.
In addition to being prospective for gold, Edleston also hosts nickel and cobalt.