Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has delivered further high-grade gold assays from in-fill drilling at the Theia deposit, strengthening confidence in the Stage 1 mine inventory at its 100%-owned Mandilla Gold Project near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
Results from 56 reverse circulation holes covering 4,970 metres were consistent with Astral’s geological and Mineral Resource models, supporting the planned conversion of the Stage 1 inventory to the higher-confidence Measured Resource category.
Standout intersections included:
- 31 metres at 3.03 g/t gold from 12 metres, including 1 metre at 59.8 g/t;
- 19 metres at 2.70 g/t from 41 metres, including 1 metre at 36.2 g/t;
- 11 metres at 3.93 g/t from 106 metres, including 1 metre at 34.3 g/t;
- 20 metres at 2.02 g/t from 71 metres, including 1 metre at 22.6 g/t; and
- 21 metres at 2.01 g/t from 74 metres, including 1 metre at 14.6 g/t.
Cross-section B-B’ view of the Theia Deposit showing the drill trace and assay results for the current infill RC drilling.
Drilling supports early mine plan
The latest drilling encountered broad, consistent gold mineralisation within laterally continuous zones of quartz-sulphide veining, including several narrow, very high-grade shoots.
The average grade across the reported intersections was 1.24 g/t gold, remaining above the current Stage 1 pit resource grade.
The Stage 1 open pit contains 4.2 million tonnes at 1.1 g/t gold for 146,000 ounces and is expected to provide ore during the project’s first 21 months. Upgrading this inventory to Measured status would increase confidence in the first 16 months of planned mill feed and support the Mandilla definitive feasibility study and project financing process.
Managing director Marc Ducler said the results demonstrated consistent mineralisation and provided further confidence in the planned resource conversion.
Cornerstone Mandilla deposit
Theia hosts a Mineral Resource of 41 million tonnes at 1.1 g/t gold for 1.4 million ounces and contributes about 75% of the 1.48 million ounces included in Mandilla’s pre-feasibility study production case.
The broader Mandilla Project has a Mineral Resource of 53.5 million tonnes at 1.0 g/t gold for 1.74 million ounces.
The pre-feasibility study outlined a standalone operation producing an average of 95,000 ounces annually during its first 12 years from seven open pits across Mandilla and Feysville.
Map illustrating the location of the Mandilla, Spargoville and Feysville Gold Projects.
Next steps
Astral has completed 151 holes for 15,131 metres of the planned 431-hole, 44,400-metre Stage 1 in-fill program, with drilling expected to continue through the remainder of 2026.
A further 280 holes for about 29,300 metres are planned to reduce average drill spacing to 12.5 metres by 12.5 metres and support Measured Resource classification across the entire Stage 1 inventory.
Diamond drilling at Theia Deeps is also continuing, with assays pending from five holes covering 2,614 metres. Astral is targeting completion of the Mandilla definitive feasibility study during the March quarter of 2027.
