Brightstar Resources Ltd has received final results from a 6,000-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Sandstone Gold Project in Western Australia’s Murchison region with strong results from the Montague-Boulder and Whistler deposits.
The inaugural reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaigns at the deposits, completed in Q4 2024, targeted depth extensions and infill resource drilling and have delivered what the company describe as “impressive results” of up to 4 metres at 59 g/t gold.
Results have confirmed material high-grade extensions to known mineralisation and bode well for planned follow-up growth-focused programs targeting increases to the mineral resources.
The Whistler RC drilling program totalled ~3,300 metres and was designed to infill mineralisation beneath the existing open pit, ensuring sufficient drill spacing for future MRE updates to support indicated resource classification.
Additionally, several extensional holes were drilled to explore the northern and southern extents of the mineralisation.
The ~2,800-metre Montague-Boulder Program aimed to test areas at the extent of the current resource as well as beneath the existing pit.
The results
“The final results from the Whistler deposit are extremely encouraging, highlighting the broad, high-grade nature of the mineralisation,” Brightstar managing director Alex Rovira said.
Final assay results from the Whistler deposit include 4 metres at 59.0 g/t gold from 24 metres and 5 metres at 7.64 g/t from 182 metres in WHRC24006; and 9 metres at 7.16 g/t from 123 metres in WHRC24002.
Rovira added, “Similarly, the results from Montague-Boulder are particularly interesting as in the northern extents shallow dipping, high-grade mineralised shoots are observed to extend beyond previously defined lodes.”
Significant intercepts from the Montague-Boulder deposit include:
- 2 metres at 33.7 g/t gold from 100 metres, including 1 metre at 66.1 g/t from 101 metres (MBRC24024);
- 1 metre at 66.7 g/t from 130 metres (MBRC24012);
- 7 metres at 5.39 g/t from 127 metres including 1 metre at 16.4 g/t from 131 metres (MBRC24014);
- 3 metres at 8.27 g/t from 93 metres including 1 metre at 11.6 g/t from 94 metres (MBRC24022);
- 4 metres at 4.95 g/t from surface (MBRC24007); and
- 2 metres at 7.98 g/t from 117 metres including 1 metre at 14.2 g/t from 117 metres (MBRC24016).
Drilling continues
The greater Sandstone Gold Project, which includes the Montague-Boulder and Whistler deposits, hosts a mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 1.5 million ounces at 1.5 g/t gold. Montague-Boulder and Whistler deposits host a combined resource of 4.7 million tonnes at 1.8 g/t for 283,000 ounces.
This drilling at the 120,000-ounce Whistler deposit and the 163,000-ounce Montague-Boulder deposit is part of an aggressive 55,000-metre RC drilling program to rapidly expand the existing mineral resource at Sandstone.
Earlier this week, Brightstar announced that it has kicked off the 2025 drilling program, starting at the Lord Nelson and Vanguard North deposits
The RC rig has re-commenced drilling at Lord Nelson, targeting along strike/down dip extensions and infilling key areas of the deposit.
“We look forward to sharing further results as they become available, with assays still pending from our 2024 drill season at Sandstone and Laverton,” Rovira said.
“Drilling has recommenced with the RC rig at the Lord Nelson deposit in Sandstone continuing from where the 2024 campaign paused before Christmas.
“This program includes Brightstar’s first drill holes at Sandstone, initiated just days after the completion of the acquisition of Alto Metals, showcasing Brightstar’s steadfast commitment to organic growth through exploration”.
The company also continues to work on a definitive feasibility study and development activities at its second mining operation, the Fish underground mine (Laverton Hub), to complement the Second Fortune Mine.