Critical Resources Ltd (ASX:CRR, FRA:9S70) has outlined a growing multi-commodity discovery pipeline at its Halls Peak project in northern New South Wales, pointing to emerging gold–antimony–silver potential at the Amoco prospect, exceptionally high-grade silver at Gibsons, and progressing land access at the Mayview antimony prospect.
The update follows completed petrographic analysis of maiden drill samples from Amoco, which the company says confirms the presence of a large, structurally controlled orogenic gold–antimony–silver system overprinting earlier volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) mineralisation.
Amoco: Shallow orogenic gold–antimony system confirmed
Amoco sits about 19 kilometres southeast of Larvotto Resources’ Hillgrove antimony–gold operations and 14 kilometres east of Koonenberry Gold’s Enmore Gold Project, along the same regional structural corridor within the New England Fold Belt.
Petrographic work on 10 drill samples from the maiden program identified quartz-rich hydrothermal breccias and vein infill with strong replacement textures, indicating multiple pulses of mineralising fluids. Sulphide content of up to around 20% was observed in places, with alteration assemblages including quartz–sericite–pyrite and local adularia — a combination consistent with shallow epithermal to mesothermal conditions.
The study concluded that gold and antimony mineralisation at Amoco was introduced during a later-stage orogenic event, superimposed on an earlier VHMS system. This mineralisation style is considered analogous to the Hillgrove antimony–gold deposit.
Surface sampling has already returned high-grade gold, antimony and silver values, including assays of up to 17.9 g/t gold, 0.7% antimony and 53.2 g/t silver. The presence of arsenopyrite-bearing zones, broad alteration envelopes and strong structural control has prompted recommendations for further drilling along strike and at depth.
Previously reported mineralised rock sample highlights – Au, Sb and Ag analyses from Amoco.
Gibsons: Ultra-high-grade silver across multiple lodes
At the nearby Gibsons project, Critical Resources continues to highlight what it describes as exceptional silver potential within a polymetallic system hosting multiple stacked lodes.
Gibsons currently hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource of 840,000 tonnes at 3.7% zinc, 1.5% lead, 0.44% copper, 30 g/t silver and 0.1 g/t gold (JORC 2012). The resource remains open laterally and at depth, with several of the highest-grade silver intersections sitting outside existing resource wireframes.
Drilling has identified up to nine silver-bearing lodes, with three carrying consistently ultra-high-grade silver above 900 g/t. Reported standout results include 1.15 metres at 3,780 g/t silver, 1.6 metres at 1,900 g/t silver and 1.24 metres at 1,750 g/t silver.
The company has identified two distinct styles of silver mineralisation at Gibsons: massive sulphide-hosted silver associated with zinc–lead–copper lodes, and black shale-hosted silver occurring as tetrahedrite disseminated within intensely altered shale. The latter style is considered to significantly expand the exploration footprint beyond the current resource model.
Amoco gold-in-soils geochemistry assay results with rock chip samples and major interpreted fault structures (black dashed lines) with Gibson Base Metals Project.
Mayview: High-grade antimony with access progressing
Critical Resources is also advancing land access discussions at the Mayview antimony prospect, which lies immediately adjacent to Larvotto’s Hillgrove operations.
Historic workings and surface sampling at Mayview have returned exceptionally high antimony values, including rock-chip assays of up to 52.3% antimony alongside elevated gold grades of up to 2.71 g/t. Once access is secured, the company plans to complete a low-impact soil geochemistry program across about 270 metres of mapped workings.
Early indications suggest Mayview could represent a southeastern extension of the Hillgrove-style orogenic antimony–gold system.
Mayview Antimony Prospect with recent surface rock samples.
Next steps
Critical Resources said upcoming work across Halls Peak will focus on integrating the new petrographic data into refined structural models at Amoco, advancing drill targeting along key fault corridors, and progressing permitting and land access to support further drilling.
At Gibsons, future programs are expected to target down-dip extensions of the highest-grade silver lodes, untested shale horizons and step-out drilling aimed at expanding both tonnage and grade across the broader district.