Mining

Western Mines begins drill program at historic Rock of Ages gold target

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By Robin Bromby - 
Western Mines Group ASX WMG Rock of Ages gold

Rock of Ages was mined between 1902 and 1911 and produced 2,074oz gold at 50g/t.

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A drill rig and team are moving on to the Rock of Ages project owned by Western Mines Group (ASX: WMG) to undertake the first deep test drilling since the 1980s.

The Rock of Ages, near Laverton in Western Australia, was mined between 1902 and 1911, producing 2,074 ounces at 50 grams per tonne.

Western Mines says this will be the first program to properly test the depth potential of the high-grade gold mineralisation since a “poor” attempt by the former Esmeralda Exploration in the 1980s.

Managing director Caedmon Marriott says the depth potential of the mineralisation at Rock of Ages has never been properly tested.

“This program will the first to do so.”

Old timers went only 35m below surface

“The old timers chased high-grade gold at 50g/t down hand-dug shafts and stopes to 30-35m below surface along what appears to be a consistent mineralised horizon,” Mr Marriott added.

“We’re hoping this well mineralised system could open at depth.”

Six holes, for a total of 800m, will be drilled to between depths of 100m and 170m, testing for high-grade shoots beneath the main central shafts.

Drilling program could be extended

A second program of work will expand the drilling if necessary.

The Rock of Ages project is located approximately 32km southeast of Laverton.

The project lies on the Laverton Greenstone Belt, around 4.5km south of the historical Burtville Mining Centre and is surrounded by Focus Minerals’ (ASX: FML) Laverton Gold Project, with the neighbouring deposits of Burtville (206,000oz at 0.96g/t Au) and Karridale (1.19Moz at 1.33g/t Au) within a 5km radius.

The company’s flagship project and current primary focus is the Mulga Tank nickel-copper-platinum group metals asset on the underexplored Minigwal Greenstone Belt.

Western Mines holds numerous other projects across major WA mineral belts including Melita (gold), midway between Kookynie and Leonora in the heart of the WA Goldfields and Jasper Hill (gold), with numerous prospective gold trends extending from the adjacent Lord Byron and Fish historical gold mines.

The company is also actively exploring Youanmi (gold), Pavarotti (Ni-Cu-PGE), Broken Hill Bore (gold) and Pinyalling (gold).