Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has confirmed shallow, high-grade supergene gold mineralisation at the Think Big deposit within its 100%-owned Feysville Gold Project near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, following completion of a 92-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program.
The 5,229-metre in-fill program, undertaken by proposed development partner Mineral Mining Services Pty Ltd (MMS), returned a series of strong near-surface intersections including:
- 11 metres at 7.34 g/t gold from 38 metres;
- 12 metres at 5.89 g/t from 30 metres; and
- 4 metres at 8.27 g/t from 34 metre
Drill Highlights
The company's results were generally in line with expectations and demonstrated broad zones of near-surface supergene mineralisation across multiple sections.
The average assay grade from the in-fill program was 1.78 g/t gold.
Other notable results included:
- 3 metres at 10.0 g/t from 21 metres;
- 2 metres at 9.53 g/t from 30 metres;
- 9 metres at 6.01 g/t from 93 metres; and
- 12 metres at 4.14 g/t from 90 metres
Astral Resources’ Managing Director Marc Ducler said: “We have made tremendous recent progress towards the development of the Think Big deposit as an early cash-flow opportunity through our proposed mining Joint Venture with MMS.
“Assay results from a recently completed 92-hole (5,229m) in-fill RC drill program have all been received and will feed into an update of the mineralised wireframes and grade control model ahead of mine planning."
Mine planning progresses
MMS's resource geologist is now reinterpreting the mineralised wireframes, which will feed into a grade control model ahead of mine planning.
A 3-hole, 255-metre geotechnical diamond drilling program has also been completed to support pit slope design.
Think Big currently hosts a mineral resource estimate of 2.4 million tonnes at 1.1 g/t gold for 85,200 ounces. Under the proposed development joint venture, MMS will fund 100% of the development costs, with those costs to be recovered from initial project cash flows.
Following cost recovery, profits would be shared 50:50 until joint venture profit reaches $40 million, after which profit would be split on terms more favourable to Astral.
Ducler said the latest drilling would support the update of the mineralised wireframes and grade control model ahead of mine planning.
“The nature of the predominantly supergene-style mineralisation is well suited to the joint venture development pathway with third-party processing,” Ducler added.
Map of Feysville Gold Project on local area geology.
Permitting moves forward
Development approvals have also progressed, with the Native Vegetation Clearing Permit now approved and the Mine Development & Closure Plan awaiting approval. Objections associated with an additional miscellaneous tenement required for ore haulage have been resolved, with the tenement expected to progress to grant.
The remaining critical-path infrastructure item is the design and construction of the intersection between the Think Big haul road and the Goldfields Highway, which is expected to be completed in the June quarter of 2027.
Mining is expected to begin in the March quarter of 2027, followed by haulage in the June quarter.
Meanwhile, revenue from Think Big is expected during the June quarter of 2027.
Think Big forms part of the broader Feysville Gold Project, about 14 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie, which hosts a mineral resource of 5 million tonnes at 1.2 g/t gold for 196,000 ounces across the Kamperman, Think Big and Rogan Josh deposits.