Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) has launched maiden drilling at the North Bermol prospect in Papua, Indonesia, targeting a series of shear and fault zones defined by recent high-grade surface samples.
The 17-hole, 865-metre scout program is the first to test the northern extension of the Bermol corridor, where rock sampling has returned assays up to 36.7 g/t gold and 44.7 g/t silver. Other results of 34.05, 21.21 and 18.62 g/t gold from quartz and sulphide-rich zones have reinforced earlier findings and highlighted the corridor’s potential to host multiple mineralised systems.
Map showing prospect and resource areas within the Idenburg COW tenement. Recent mapping was completed in the North Bermol prospect area and discovered new zones of shear/fault-hosted gold mineralisation.
Located about 1.5 kilometres northwest of Bermol, North Bermol is the first of several prospects scheduled for drilling this quarter. Rigs are expected to mobilise to the high-grade Sua prospect in early October, followed by work at Kwaplu later in the month.
Expanding Idenburg’s footprint
The program builds on recent work that has more than doubled the number of identified targets across Far East’s 95,280-hectare Idenburg tenement. A structural review by Murphy Geological Services outlined 29 prospects, ranked into priority categories, with North Bermol among the advanced, high-priority zones.
Image showing the Bermol district prospect areas and the location of planned North Bermol drillholes (yellow) and completed drill holes at the Bermol prospect (blue). The site of the first North Bermol drill hole (BND001) is indicated.
Earlier drilling at Bermol confirmed mineralisation along a 650-metre strike length and at depth, providing a strong foundation for further testing across the corridor.
Recent detailed mapping at North Bermol has further defined northwest-trending shear zones coincident with major regional structures, supporting the view that the Bermol–North Bermol corridor could host a district-scale system.
A) Sample BI001169 – from North Bermol, outcrop, intensely oxidized with remnant clot of arsenopyrite that returned an assay of 36.77g/t Au, 44.7 g/t Ag. B) Sample BI001170 from North Bermol, intensely oxidized, with assay of 18.62 g/t Au and 13.8 g/t Ag.
Pipeline of targets
Far East Gold CEO Shane Menere said the first drill program at North Bermol marks “another exciting milestone” in the company’s Idenburg exploration campaign.
“With multiple high-grade rock samples already confirming the system’s strength, this drilling has the potential to unlock a brand-new discovery,” Menere said. “Alongside imminent drilling at the high-grade Sua prospect, shareholders can look forward to a steady flow of near-term news flow and catalysts from one of the most prospective gold corridors in the region.”
Far East Gold expects drilling at North Bermol to generate consistent updates through the coming weeks, with assays to follow once results are processed. Work at Sua and Kwaplu is set to broaden the company’s exposure to multiple mineralised systems within the Idenburg tenement, underpinning its strategy to establish a pipeline of advanced, high-grade gold targets.
With three prospects slated for drilling by the end of October, Far East is positioning Idenburg as a core focus within its six-project portfolio across Indonesia and Australia.