Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has intersected extensive gold mineralisation at its Spargoville Gold Project in Western Australia, with final assays from a 74-hole reverse circulation (RC) program confirming extensions across multiple zones.
The 11,744-metre campaign, completed in September, returned standout results from the Eagles Nest and Trapdoor–Lindsay’s Reward trends, validating the project’s growth potential alongside Astral’s flagship Mandilla development nearby.
Map of Spargoville and Mandilla Gold Projects identifying gold deposits on local area geology.
High-grade hits at Eagles Nest
At Eagles Nest, highlights included:
- 3 metres at 16.9 g/t gold from 71 metres, including 1 metre at 49.2 g/t from 71 metres (SGRC050)
- 9 metres at 5.16 g/t from 105 metres, including 1 metre at 33.6 g/t from 107 metres (SGRC051)
- 25 metres at 1.51 g/t from 199 metres and 6 metres at 1.72 g/t from 232 metres (SGRC059)
The results confirm extensions of known mineralisation at depth, with a moderate northerly plunge identified for follow-up drilling.
Trapdoor–Lindsay’s Reward trend extended
Drilling along the Trapdoor–Lindsay’s Reward gold trend also delivered multiple strong intercepts, including:
- 6 metres at 3.45 g/t gold from 63 metres, including 1 metre at 11.2 g/t from 64 metres (SGRC026)
- 6 metres at 3.15 g/t from 36 metres (SGRC013)
- 7 metres at 1.78 g/t from 153 metres (SGRC032)
Map of the Trapdoor – Lindsay Reward Gold Trend, illustrating drill collar locations from recent and historical drilling on local area geology.
The Trapdoor drilling confirmed gold mineralisation extending southward, while drilling to the east identified a parallel lode likely linked to the Huntsman Deposit.
Map of the Trapdoor, Golden Orb, Redback and Huntsman Deposits, illustrating drill collar locations of recent and historical drilling on local area geology.
Astral managing director Marc Ducler said the results reinforced Spargoville’s long-term potential.
“While the primary motivation in acquiring Maximus Resources and the Spargoville Project was to accommodate infrastructure requirements for the development of the adjacent Mandilla Gold Project, we have always believed the exploration potential to be high and are excited to be exploring the area,” Ducler said.
Read more: Astral lifts group gold resource to 1.76Moz with Spargoville addition
“With extremely positive results from our inaugural 74-hole/11,740-metre RC program, we only feel more confident that the Spargoville Project will deliver material longer-term growth to any future Mandilla mining project,” he added. “This inaugural drill program has identified depth extensions at Eagles Nest, strike and depth extensions at the Trapdoor–Lindsay’s Reward gold trend, and a fresh rock opportunity below the 8500N palaeochannel deposit.”
Ducler noted that the widespread mineralisation highlighted the potential for valuable small-footprint discoveries similar to the historic Wattle Dam Mine, which produced 266,000 ounces of gold at 10.6 g/t.
Ongoing work at Mandilla and lithium JV
In parallel, in-fill drilling continues at Astral’s cornerstone Theia Deposit within the Mandilla Gold Project, where a 99-hole, 10,000-metre program is now 74% complete. A second RC rig is testing targets west of Theia, with diamond drilling planned to commence mid-October.
Read more: Astral Resources strikes standout grades in Theia RC in-fill drilling
Astral also completed a 21-hole (2,599-metre) RC program targeting lithium-bearing pegmatites under its joint venture with Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation (KOMIR), with assays pending.
Map illustrating the location of the Mandilla, Spargoville and Feysville Gold Projects.