Mining

Aurumin commences RC drilling at historic Mt Dimer gold project

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By Imelda Cotton - 
Aurumin ASX AUN RC drill rig Mt Dimer

Aurumin’s Mt Dimer project in WA was historically mined and produced more than 125,000oz gold during its life.

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A drilling campaign at gold explorer Aurumin’s (ASX: AUN) wholly-owned Mt Dimer project, near Southern Cross in Western Australia, will aim to define the existing high-grade Lightning and Golden Slipper deposits and test at least six new targets.

The 5,000m reverse circulation program will comprise about 50 holes and is based on the results of a ground-based sub-audio magnetic (SAM) survey conducted in September which generated 13 primary targets analogous to current known mineralisation.

These targets are on northerly-trending structures in lower conductivity (higher resistivity) positions, interpreted to be granodiorite and further supported by recent mapping and existing geochemistry.

Aurumin confirmed all preparation work for the drilling campaign had been completed including environmental surveys, government approvals and clearing.

Samples from the program will be progressively dispatched to the assay laboratory.

The new work follows a maiden drilling program during the December quarter, which targeted Lightning and Golden Slipper.

Best results from that campaign at Lightning were 8m at 5.26 grams per tonne gold from 112m, including 4m at 8.35g/t gold from 112m; 4m at 5.01g/t gold from 116m; and 4m at 6.38g/t gold from 104m.

At Golden Slipper, Aurumin intercepted 4m at 3.17g/t gold from 88m.

Project potential

Managing director Brad Valiukas said the new round of drilling could unveil the potential of the historic Mt Dimer project.

“Our view is that Mt Dimer has considerable upside and the potential for multiple open pits, in addition to the known high-grade Lightning and Golden Slipper deposits,” he said.

“The SAM survey covered a relatively small area of the granted mining tenements and a much a larger footprint is available to be tested in the future.”

Historic project

The historic Mt Dimer project was first explored by Western Mining Corporation and Placer Exploration Ltd between 1985 and 1993, and then mined by Tectonic Resources NL until 1997.

The mine produced more than 125,000 ounces of gold during its life, from approximately 600,000t ore grading 6.4g/t across six open pit mines and one underground operation.

The Lightning deposit and extensions to the Golden Slipper open pit were defined, but not mined, by previous operators and represent immediate opportunities for Aurumin to expand the resource and further develop the project.

Mr Valiukas said the Mt Dimer area had multiple geophysical, geochemical and geological targets identified from previous studies and a significant number of high-grade unmined intersections.