Koonenberry Gold Ltd (ASX:KNB) has extended gold mineralisation at the Sunnyside Prospect within its Enmore Project in northern New South Wales, with the final three holes from its Phase II drilling campaign continuing to return broad gold zones and high-grade intervals at depth.
The latest assays have pushed mineralisation a further 195 metres down dip on two drill sections and confirmed continuity across more than 200 metres of strike and to vertical depths of up to 415 metres, reinforcing Sunnyside’s emergence as a sizeable orogenic gold system.
Among the standout intercepts was hole 26ENDD020, which returned 24 metres at 1.03 g/t gold from 172 metres within a broader 61 metres at 0.56 g/t gold interval, as well as 4.6 metres at 8.82 g/t gold from 303 metres inside a 105-metre zone grading 0.71 g/t gold from 260 metres.
Hole 26ENDD021 delivered 14 metres at 1.03 g/t gold from 410 metres within 60 metres at 0.72 g/t gold, while 26ENDD022 intersected 30 metres at 1.13 g/t gold from 163 metres inside a broader 94 metres at 0.56 g/t gold interval.
Sunnyside E-E’ section showing broad zones of mineralisation from surface to ~380m vertical from KNB Phase II drilling. See Figure 2 for location of E-E’ section line.
Sunnyside plan view with drill hole locations, geology and interpreted mineralised zone which is structurally controlled along the shear zone and NE trending cross structures. Significant gold intersections (>2g/t x m Au) are labelled at the collar as well as highlighted in red/yellow on the drill trace.
Broad mineralised system continues to grow
The Phase II program at Sunnyside comprised 12 diamond drill holes for 4,780.1 metres, with 10 of the 12 holes intersecting visible gold. Across all drilling completed by Koonenberry at the prospect, 17 of 22 holes have now intersected visible gold.
Importantly, drilling continues to demonstrate both broad bulk-tonnage style mineralisation and high-grade shoots associated with structural intersections within the Sunnyside Shear Zone. The system remains open at depth and along strike to both the northeast and southwest.
Selected visible gold bearing intervals (circled red) from 26ENDD020 at Sunnyside Prospect. The company confirms the visible gold observed is primary in nature and is hosted within quartz veins.
Management believes the intersection between the northeast-trending Sunnyside Shear Zone and secondary cross structures is a key control on higher-grade mineralisation. Long-section interpretation indicates the highest-grade zones may plunge eastward, with several areas still untested.
The latest results also strengthened the case for a potential second plunging shoot after hole 26ENDD022 significantly upgraded an area previously considered lower grade.
Managing director Dan Power said the latest drilling had continued to expand the scale potential of the system.
“The final three holes of our Phase II drilling campaign at Sunnyside have further extended mineralisation by 195m and 113m on two adjacent drill sections and highlighted significant scope for additional mineralisation to the west including the potential for a second plunging shoot,” he said.
Enmore emerging as district-scale gold opportunity
Koonenberry believes the broader Enmore district has the potential to host multiple mineralised systems, with more than 30 kilometres of prospective structures now identified across the project area.
The company is progressing drilling and regional exploration across several prospects, including Postman’s Gully and Hand in Hand, where assays remain pending.
At Postman’s Gully, five diamond holes tested a 1.3-kilometre-long gold-in-soil anomaly associated with historical workings and high-grade rock chips up to 14.05 g/t gold. Results from that program are expected this month.
Meanwhile, three diamond holes at Hand in Hand followed up widespread shallow anomalous gold intersected in earlier RC drilling, with assays expected in June.
The company has also highlighted the Queen of Sheba target, where historical rock chip samples returned grades up to 74.1 g/t gold.
Next drilling phase taking shape
With Phase II drilling now complete, Koonenberry is undertaking detailed geological and structural interpretation work to refine targeting ahead of the next drilling phase at Sunnyside.
The company is simultaneously accelerating regional geochemical and geophysical programs across both the Enmore and Lachlan projects, aiming to build a pipeline of additional drill-ready targets.
Outside Enmore, Koonenberry recently completed IP geophysical surveys at its Dunedoo and Wilga projects in the Lachlan Fold Belt, while Newmont is preparing to begin a fully funded nine-hole, 1,800-metre diamond drilling campaign at the Junee joint venture in June.
The Junee work will target large-scale gold systems with potential to host deposits exceeding five million ounces.
Koonenberry Gold has a diverse portfolio of high-quality gold and copper projects in highly prospective areas of NSW and prioritises programs to maximise value for shareholders. Please note that the planned discovery activity is indicative and subject to various factors including ongoing assessment and review, geological ranking, regulatory approvals, weather etc.