Brightstar Resources Ltd has delivered further broad high-grade gold in final assay results from the 2024 diamond drilling program at Lord Byron deposit, part of the Jasper Hills Gold Project in its Laverton Hub in WA
The 13-hole drilling campaign targeted areas surrounding conceptual A$3,000 per ounce optimised pit shells, developed as part of the 2024 Jasper Hills Scoping Study.
Plan view map of Lord Byron diamond drill hole collar locations.
Open-pit mineable gold
Strong gold intersections from the drilling include:
- 20.39 metres at 3.03 g/t gold from 196.53 metres, including 1.36 metres at 9.23 g/t from 198.21 metres and 2.34 metres at 7.72 g/t from 205.53 metres;
- 22.86 metres at 1.68 g/t from 178.24 metres, including 0.3 metres at 17.3 g/t from 179.1 metres;
- 23.11 metres at 1.56 g/t from 202.12 metres; and
- 16.79 metres at 2.13 g/t from 205 metres, including 2.70 metres at 5.83 g/t from 218.42 metres.
These results point to the existence of consistent high-grade, south-plunging shoots, presenting promising targets for potential open-pit expansions and underground mining.
Brightstar managing director Alex Rovira said: “These highly encouraging results reinforce Lord Byron’s position as a significant gold resource within the company's portfolio.
Increased geological understanding
“The increased geological understanding and additional metallurgical and geotechnical data will contribute to updated development studies at our Laverton Hub.
“The results highlight wide intervals of open-pit mineable gold grades, including discrete zones of high-grade mineralisation identified near the base of, and below, a A$3,000-per-ounce optimised pit shell generated during the 2024 scoping study.”
These findings will contribute to an upcoming update to the mineral resource estimate (MRE) and ongoing development studies.
The drilling also provided key geotechnical and metallurgical data, further strengthening the company’s understanding of the Lord Byron deposit.
Brightstar plans additional drilling in the first half of 2025 to test deeper high-grade shoots below the conceptual pit design.
“The outcomes of this program represent a major step forward in demonstrating the deposit's potential for both high-grade and bulk-tonnage mining opportunities while reinforcing the opportunities at depth which are compelling targets due to the wide and higher-grade nature of the main lode centred on the Bicentennial Shear Zone,” Rovira continued.
“The higher-grade plunging shoots at Lord Byron are particularly exciting and are further delineated by these diamond drilling assays.
“The Brightstar geology team are currently planning new drill holes to target these shoots at depth as we aim to grow the resource ahead of assessing the potential for future open pit cut-backs or underground mining beneath the planned open pit.
“Brightstar remains committed to advancing its exploration and development projects to maximise shareholder value while unlocking the full potential of its high-quality gold assets.”
Samples on way for Lord Nelson
Meanwhile, Brightstar's 2025 drilling campaign at Sandstone is progressing, with reverse circulation (RC) drilling now completed at Lord Nelson and the rig relocated to the Vanguard camp.
Samples from Lord Nelson are currently being processed at the laboratory.
With continued exploration success, Brightstar remains focused on advancing its Laverton Hub assets towards production while assessing opportunities for both open-pit cutbacks and underground expansion at Lord Byron.