Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has recorded a “spectacular” high-grade gold intercept of 3 metres at 177 g/t at Kamperman prospect of the Feysville Gold Project in Western Australia.
The result comes as Astral reports assay results for the first 20 holes for 2,580 metres of its 31-hole (3,834 metre) infill and extensional reverse circulation (RC) drill program at Kamperman.
"Surprise to the upside"
Astral Resources managing director Marc Ducler said: “These latest holes at Kamperman continue to surprise to the upside – showing that there is a potentially very significant high-grade opportunity here that we are yet to unlock.
“Previously, FRC243 returned a very high-grade zone of two metres at 188 g/t gold from 77 metres, 40 metres to the northeast. FRC378 has now returned another very high-grade zone of three metres at 177 g/t gold from 74 metres.”
RC holes FRC377 and FRC378 were designed to infill the northern end of the Kamperman prospect while also testing for potential north-plunging mineralisation.
Results from FRC378 include 12 metres at 7.26 g/t gold from 23 metres, including 1 metre at 16.5 g/t from 24 metres and 1 metre at 39.7 g/t from 27 metres.
The 3 metres at 177 g/t gold intercept was further down-hole, from 74 metres, along with 25 metres at 24.3 g/t from 68 metres, including 1 metre at 28.0 g/t from 69 metres.
Drill hole FRC377 returned 12 metres at 1.96 g/t gold from 20 metres and 5 metres at 1.25 g/t from 58 metres.
Astral says these results are encouraging and diamond drilling is planned in this area to better understand the orientation of the very high-grade zone in hole FRC378.
Cross-section through Kamperman illustrating drill trace, assay results and geological interpretation.
In addition step-out holes to the north and nort-east intersected gold mineralisation, demonstrating that Kamperman remains open to the north.
Other assays returned include:
- FRC372 - 4 metres at 2.95 g/t gold from 61 metres and 11 metres at 0.96 g/t from 91 metres; and
- FRC371 - 18 metres at 0.90 g/t from 25 metres.
Ducler said, “Previous diamond drilling that was completed to better understand the potential orientation of this very high-grade zone was not successful; however, given the potential size of the prize, additional work is warranted.
“The extensional drilling completed to the north and northeast has continued to intersect gold mineralisation, albeit the gold grades were of a lower tenor than expected given the quantum of quartz and sulphides logged in the RC chips.
“Additional RC drilling is planned given the proximity to a northeast trending fault which is potentially controlling the mineralisation or offsetting it.
“It is becoming clear that Kamperman hosts multiple potential controlling structures that warrant further investigation, as does Feysville as a whole.
“The infill RC program at Iris is 50% complete. The program is now on hold for approximately three weeks while groundwater testing is undertaken with the RC rig. Once the groundwater program is complete, RC drilling will resume at Iris and Eos.
“Meanwhile, diamond drilling is now underway at Theia with four deep infill holes for 1,600 metres planned. These holes are designed to provide the level of confidence required to warrant an upgrade of the inferred resources at depth into the indicated resource category.”
Exploration update
RC drilling at Kamperman was completed on October 2, 2024, and the RC rig was immediately mobilised to Mandilla’s Iris Deposit to complete a 20 hole/3,579 metre infill program, of which 10 holes have so far been drilled.
That infill program has since been paused whilst the RC rig is completing a three-week groundwater program to inform the hydrogeological model for the Mandilla pre-feasibility study (PFS).
Once the groundwater program is completed, the RC rig will complete the Iris infill program and then start a 16-hole/2,540 metre program drilling a fresh rock target adjacent to the Eos palaeochannel.
Astral plans to return the RC rig to Kamperman following the planned drilling activities at Mandilla, which is expected prior to Christmas.
Additionally, a diamond rig has commenced a four-hole/1,600 metre drill program at Mandilla of four deep infill holes ahead of an update to the Theia mineral resource estimate, which is expected to be reported in the March quarter of 2025.