Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) has identified broad, shallow gold mineralisation outside the current footprint of its 268,000-ounce Flushing Meadows Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at the Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Gold Project in Western Australia.
Results from eight reverse circulation (RC) pre-collars drilled ahead of a deeper diamond drilling campaign returned several significant gold intercepts, including a standout result of 20 metres at 1.7 g/t gold from 55 metres, including 9 metres at 2.7 g/t gold, in hole 26IWBRC0098DA. The intercept lies outside the current Flushing Meadows resource and remains open to the south and at depth.
Significant Intercepts from the RC pre-collars, all located outside of the current Mineral Resource, include:
- 20 metres @ 1.7 grams per ton (g/t) Au from 55m in 26IWBRC0098DA (ETW*1 18m), including 1m @ 3.5g/t Au from 55m, 9m @ 2.7g/t Au from 64m
- 2 metres @ 3.3g/t Au from 4m in 26IWBRC0099D, including 1m @ 5.8g/t Au from 6m, and 13m @ 0.4g/t Au from 95m in 26IWBRC0097D (ETW*1 9m)
10,125mN cross-section showing logged structures from 26IWBRC0098DA.
Yandal managing director Chris Oorschot said the result provided the first evidence of additional mineralised structures beyond the existing deposit.
“The result from 26IWBRC0098DA provides the first evidence of additional mineralised structures outside of the footprint of the current Flushing Meadows deposit. The shallow, broad nature of the oxide intercept demonstrates the potential for further exploration to build on the 268koz Mineral Resource. With seven of the eight diamond holes completed, we are looking forward to the result from the first diamond hole 26IWBRC0095D.”
Drilling reveals potential parallel mineralised structures
The RC program was completed as part of a broader campaign designed to test the continuity of mineralisation beneath the Flushing Meadows deposit, which extends for more than 1.9 kilometres at surface.
Additional significant intercepts included 2 metres at 3.3 g/t gold from 4 metres in hole 26IWBRC0099D and 13 metres at 0.4 g/t gold from 95 metres in hole 26IWBRC0097D.
According to the company, geological interpretation and recently acquired gravity data suggest the mineralisation intersected in 26IWBRC0098DA may represent a parallel structure to the known resource. The mineralised zone remains largely untested, particularly to the south-east of the current resource area where historic drilling has been limited.
The company said further RC drilling is planned for late June or early July to better understand the extent and continuity of the newly identified mineralisation.
Diamond drilling advances beneath resource
Yandal has now completed seven of the eight diamond holes planned beneath the existing Flushing Meadows resource, with drilling targeting extensions approximately 100 metres below the fresh-rock boundary. The program is designed to assess fresh-rock mineralisation, identify higher-grade zones and improve understanding of the geological controls on gold mineralisation.
Importantly, the company reported that all seven completed holes successfully intersected the interpreted down-dip continuation of the Flushing Meadows structures. Numerous additional structures of interest have also been identified in both the hanging wall and footwall of the known mineralised trend.
Assays from the first diamond hole, 26IWBRC0095D, are expected shortly, with results from the remaining holes anticipated through July.
Alongside the diamond drilling campaign, Yandal has begun a 10,000-metre air-core drilling program across the broader Flushing Meadows and Giedi Prime target areas as it continues to evaluate opportunities to expand the project's gold inventory. The Flushing Meadows deposit currently hosts a resource of 7.4 million tonnes grading 1.1 g/t gold for 268,000 ounces.
The coming schedule:
The notable near-term activities from the planned circa 10km RC, 5km DD, and 15km AC drilling programs include;
Arrakis Discovery
- RC drilling assay results targeting the southeast extension of the Arrakis structure.
- Additional assay results from targeted RC drilling to define the scale and geometry of higher-grade mineralisation across the recent gold discovery. First assay results from diamond drilling designed to assess the depth continuity of higher-grade mineralisation.
Flushing Meadows
- Core samples from diamond hole 26IWBRC0095D have been dispatched to the lab and prioritised, with results expected soon.
- Completion of the Diamond drilling program with results from further diamond holes anticipated through July.
- Air-core drilling has commenced over the broader Flushing Meadows and parallel Giedi Prime target area with first results expected late July.
New England Granite Target Area
- Drilling of the high-grade target (6m @ 6.3g/t Au from 36m, including 2m @ 18.2g/t from 36m) identified at the Salusa prospect will recommence in June.
- Assay results from the Siona oxide RC drilling program are anticipated in the coming weeks.
- Further air-core drilling across the western side of the New England Granite target area will commence pending final heritage clearance.
