Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has reported standout high-grade gold intersections from geotechnical drilling at its 100%-owned Feysville Gold Project, about 14 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, with assays reaching up to 100.7 g/t gold at the Kamperman deposit.
The results came from a 15-hole, 1,371-metre diamond drilling program across the Kamperman, Rogan Josh and Think Big deposits, designed primarily to gather rock property data to support pit optimisations for the recently completed Mandilla pre-feasibility study (PFS).
Map of Feysville Gold Project on local area geology.
While resource growth was not the primary aim, several intersections sit within the optimised pit shell but outside known mineralisation, highlighting scope to expand resources.
High-grade results from pit shell point to resource growth
Drilling at Kamperman has delivered some of Feysville’s most eye-catching gold grades to date, with hole FYGT005 intersecting multiple zones of exceptionally high-grade mineralisation within the existing pit shell but outside known resource boundaries.
Map of Kamperman illustrating the October 2024 MRE and drill collar locations of recently completed geotechnical diamond drilling on local area geology.
Highlights include:
- 6.6 metres at 2.42 g/t gold (Au) from 22.7 metres;
- 4.7 metres at 30.6 g/t from 31.8 metres, including 1.3 metres at 95.7 g/t; and
- 2.1 metres at 32.8 g/t from 123 metres, including 0.6 metres at 100.7 g/t.
In addition, hole FYGT004 returned 11.5 metres at 0.96 g/t Au from 27 metres, as well as 3.3 metres at 2.64 g/t Au from 118 metres.
Cross-section through Kamperman illustrating current mineralisation interpretation and drill trace, assay results and geological interpretation
At Rogan Josh, FYGT009 delivered 3.9 metres at 5.26 g/t from 21.7 metres, including 0.7 metres at 13.2 g/t, suggesting supergene mineralisation may extend west of the current pit shell. Think Big returned a highlight of 5.2 metres at 3.93 g/t from 31.6 metres, including 1 metre at 10.5 g/t.
Cross-section through Rogan Josh illustrating current mineralisation interpretation and drill trace, assay results and geological interpretation
Managing director Marc Ducler described the results as “pure upside”, noting the potential to add shallow high-grade ounces within the existing pit design.
“Intercepts such as 4.7 metres at 30.6 g/t and 2.1 metres at 32.8 g/t are impressive high-grade intersections in any context,” Ducler said. “Occurring as they did within the optimised pit shell but outside the extents of the known gold mineralisation is even more beneficial as we look to grow the already significant opportunity that is emerging at Kamperman.”
Broader exploration push
Astral has multiple drill programs running across its WA gold portfolio. At Mandilla, reverse circulation (RC) drilling has been completed at the Iris and Hestia deposits, with assays pending for Iris and results under review for Hestia.
At Theia, a 99-hole RC in-fill campaign is under way to tighten drill spacing in Stage 1 of the pit to 12 x 12 metres, with a diamond rig due later this quarter to support the definitive feasibility study and test high-grade extensions.
At the Spargoville Project, 48 of 90 planned RC holes have been completed targeting Karramindie, 8500N, Trapdoor and Lindsays, with results pending. Once finished, the company will drill 41 holes for its joint venture with KOMIR to assess lithium targets identified in a recent geophysical survey.
Following completion of the Mandilla and Spargoville programs, RC drilling will return to Feysville to follow up the Kamperman intercepts and undertake regional work.
Map illustrating the location of the Mandilla, Spargoville and Feysville Gold Projects.
Feysville’s role in Mandilla development
Feysville hosts a mineral resource of 5 million tonnes at 1.2 g/t gold for 196,000 ounces across Kamperman, Think Big and Rogan Josh. The PFS outlined Feysville as a key satellite ore source for future operations at Mandilla, contributing 132,000 ounces towards a 1.41-million-ounce production target.
Map of Feysville illustrating the drill collar locations of recently completed geotechnical diamond drilling and regional RC drilling on local area geology
Ducler said the definitive feasibility study is progressing well, with current quarter work focused on tendering process and infrastructure packages, environmental approvals, and finalising a Native Title agreement over Feysville.
“Astral has a history of adding new mineral resources at a discovery cost of less than $20 per ounce, a benchmark we aim to maintain as we pursue both greenfield and extensional exploration across our tenement packages,” he said.