Kingwest Resources Ltd (ASX:KWR) has unearthed more high-grade gold thanks to a reverse circulation drill campaign at its Menzies gold camp in WA.
The precious metals explorer intersected up to 27.8 g/t gold as it honed in on Menzies’ Stirling and Pericles deposits, while all 13 holes in the 1,209-metre campaign turned up gold.
Many of these high-grade hits remain open, so Kingwest plans to return to the field with an extensional drilling campaign in the near future.
In other news, the gold stock continues to work with joint venture partner BML Ventures to kickstart mining at the Selkirk deposit in the third quarter of 2023.
Recent metallurgical test-work has encouraged toll milling discussions with a regional processing facility, priming the deposit to enter production.
Strong activity pipeline
Kingwest executive chair Greg Bittar said it was pleasing to see the high-grade results continue to flow from the drilling campaign.
“Interestingly, the logging at Pericles has identified several instances of different mineralisation types similar to those seen at the Lady Shenton pit, where three lodes were mined in the open pit,” he explained.
“Similarly at Stirling, the drilling hit more than 10 g/t gold in two out of three holes, which has extended the known mineralisation further and provides a compelling target for extensional drilling of high-grade material at depth.
“We have also received positive news from our Selkirk JV partner with regards to detailed metallurgical test-work, discussions with a regional toll milling partner and planned mining commencement in the second half of 2023.”
All things considered, Bittar concluded the pipeline bodes well for Kingwest ahead of its merger with fellow ASX lister Brightstar Resources Ltd.
High-grade gold in the crosshairs
Kingwest’s latest exploration campaign locked in on near-surface, high-grade gold at the Stirling and Pericles deposits, where the drill rig turned up:
Stirling:
- 2 metres at 27.8 g/t from 49 metres;
- 4 metres at 3.74 g/t from 32 metres, including 1-metre at 7.95 g/t from 32 metres and 1-metre at 9.05 g/t from metres;
- 1-metre at 7.28 g/t from 50 metres;
- 1-metre at 6.70 g/t from 45 metres; and
- 2 metres at 6.10 g/t Au from 50 metres.
Pericles:
- 2 metres at 10.61 g/t from 100 metres, including 1-metre at 17.08 g/t from 100 metres; and
- 1-metre at 10.22 g/t from 67 metres.
This recent infill drilling program was largely designed to improve confidence in the grade and mineralisation continuity within possible pit outlines, as well as target high-grade extensions.
While ticking that box, the program has also highlighted opportunities for high-grade, down-dip extensions, which represent potential target drilling areas for underground mining.
With extensional drilling on the cards, Kingwest will keep the market updated on exploration at the storied Menzies project, as well as the road to production at the Selkirk deposit.