Far East Gold Ltd has reported high-grade and bonanza-grade gold assay results from surface grab sampling at the Idenburg project in Indonesia, including a standout result of 53 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au).
Assays from quartz veins at the North Bermol, Bermol, and Mafi prospect areas confirmed historical exploration with additional notable results of 19.31 g/t Au, 16.75 g/t Au, 10.18 g/t Au, and 8.43 g/t Au.
The company also identified a new quartz vein zone located approximately 1.2 kilometres east of the Bermol prospect. Surface sampling from a five-metre wide vein at this newly discovered zone returned assays of up to 8.43 g/t Au and 31.9 g/t silver (Ag), further expanding the project's mineralised footprint.
These results provide further confidence ahead of the company’s Phase 1 diamond drilling program, which will comprise 3,670 metres across 32 holes targeting key prospects within the Idenburg project.
The drill program aims to expand upon Far East Gold’s maiden Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) inferred mineral resource estimate of 540,000 ounces of gold at 4.1 g/t Au and 468,000 ounces of silver at 3.6 g/t Ag, released in November 2024.
According to the company, this next phase of exploration is designed to build geological confidence and advance the potential development of the project.
Map showing prospect and resource areas within the Idenburg COW tenement. Recent mapping was completed in the Bermol and Mafi prospect area. A new zone of high grade gold mineralisation was discovered about 1.2km east of the Bermol prospect. The planned drill program will attempt to expand current defined gold resources within the Sua, Mafi and Bermol prospects and complete initial drilling at the Kwaplu prospect area southwest of Sua.
New zone
Referred to as ‘East Bermol’, the grab samples at the newly discovered zone returned up to 8.43 g/t gold and 31.9 g/t silver from a five-metre-wide vein mapped at the surface.
Encouragingly, the mineralisation style is consistent with that seen at the Bermol and North Bermol prospects.
Moving forward, FEG will kick off a 32-hole diamond drill program across 3,670 metres targeting these key areas and building on existing results.
Map showing the Bermol prospect area and the location of recent surface rock samples with gold assay results. The location of the new discovery of high-grade gold in quartz veins and boudins at East Bermol is shown.
Confirms resource potential
The discovery of gold mineralisation within a new quartz zone approximately 1.2 kilometres east of Bermol reinforces the resource potential at the Idenburg project and highlights the need for continued detailed mapping across the broader area.
To date, exploration has covered only about 30% of the total Contract of Work (CoW) area, with the majority of the property remaining under-explored and offering strong potential to significantly expand the current resource base.
At the Mafi prospect, sample assays returned up to 6.45 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. In addition to gold, grab samples from Mafi also showed substantial base metal enrichment, with assays reporting up to 25.8% lead, 13.8% zinc, 0.6% copper and antimony concentrations as high as 1.2%.
Expanding current areas
FEG initiated a detailed mapping program ahead of drilling to better locate drill sites and explore outside of the known prospect areas to discover new zones of mineralisation to possibly test as part of the planned drilling
During mapping, the company confirmed the presence of high-grade gold mineralisation and the potential to expand the current defined resources in each of the prospect areas.
The planned holes will test defined zones along strike and to depth to expand the current areas of resource and complete several infill holes to upgrade the resources to indicated and measured.
The company will continue with the current detailed mapping and rock sampling to define extensions to known zones of gold mineralisation and make additional gold discoveries.