Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has identified additional broad zones of gold mineralisation at depth beneath the Theia deposit, reinforcing the growth potential of its 100%-owned Mandilla Gold Project near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
The latest assays come from two holes in Astral’s expanded 11-hole, 6,000-metre diamond drilling program targeting extensions to the cornerstone 1.4-million-ounce Theia deposit.
Broad gold zones returned at depth
The standout result came from hole AMRCD259, which returned a total intersection of 268.41 metres at 0.70 g/t gold from 356.88 metres.
Within that broader zone, Astral reported several higher-grade intervals, including 45.53 metres at 2.15 g/t gold from 356.88 metres, with narrow high-grade hits of 0.3 metres at 170.8 g/t gold from 369.5 metres and 0.3 metres at 31.8 g/t gold from 398.13 metres.
The same hole also returned 3.23 metres at 7.90 g/t gold from 413.92 metres, including 0.3 metres at 82.1 g/t gold from 416.14 metres.
Importantly, AMRCD259 intersected 22 metres at 0.63 g/t gold from 714 metres, around 350 metres below the base of the proposed Theia pit, with visible gold observed 767 metres down-hole.
Second hole confirms further mineralisation
A second hole, AMRCD264, returned a total intersection of 199.94 metres at 1.34 g/t gold from 47.46 metres.
Key results included 51.49 metres at 2.42 g/t gold from 128 metres, including 0.9 metres at 84.2 g/t gold from 173.1 metres, and 17.4 metres at 4.66 g/t gold from 230 metres, including 1 metre at 65.7 g/t gold from 240 metres.
Astral said several deeper intercepts in AMRCD264 were returned below the current A$4,500 Theia Mineral Resource shell, supporting the view that Theia remains open at depth.
In-fill drilling de-risks open pit plan
The company has also received assays from a 43-hole, 4,324-metre reverse circulation program within Stage 2 of the proposed Theia open pit.
The program was designed to tighten drill spacing to 20 metres by 20 metres, supporting the mine plan outlined in the Mandilla pre-feasibility study.
Best RC results included 8 metres at 10.5 g/t gold from 42 metres in AMRC249, 5 metres at 4.18 g/t gold from 70 metres in AMRC273 and 13 metres at 1.98 g/t gold from 44 metres in AMRC268.
What's ahead
Astral has completed nine holes of the expanded Theia Deeps diamond program, with further holes planned to follow up the latest success.
The company is also continuing in-fill drilling at Stage 1 of the Theia open pit, where 115 holes for about 11,150 metres have been completed, although assay results have so far been received for less than 20% of the holes drilled.
Further drilling is planned to progressively upgrade parts of the Theia open pit to Measured Resource status as Mandilla advances toward a final investment decision.
