Intermin Resources Limited (ASX:IRC) has grown the strike length of the Anthill Gold Project in WA’s Goldfields to more than 400 metres after completing a resource extension drilling program.
A 122-hole reverse circulation (RC) program for 15,118 metres extended the 120 metres of strike length that contains the resource estimate of 1.42 million tonnes at 1.72 g/t gold for 78,000 ounces.
The high-grade results returned are likely to boost resources with an updated estimate due later this quarter.
Anthill “grows with each drilling campaign”
Intermin managing director Jon Price said: “These latest results from Anthill continue to demonstrate the potential scale and quality of the ore body that continues to grow with each drilling campaign.”
The holes were drilled to an average depth of 120 metres with a maximum depth of 284 metres.
Best results were 31 metres at 3.28 g/t from 112 metres, including 1 metre at 31.7 g/t from 130 metres; 19 metres at 2.70 g/t from 57 metres; and 10 metres at 2.79 g/t from 80 metres.
READ: Intermin Resources reveals significant gold hits from drilling at Anthill
Price said: “The results certainly justify our belief that the Zuleika Shear can deliver new large-scale open cut and underground gold deposits.
“Once we receive the final assay data we will compile an updated mineral resource estimate in the current December quarter and progress future development studies in early 2019.”
Intermin’s Kalgoorlie area gold project locations, regional geology and surrounding infrastructure.
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The project is 54 kilometres northwest of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and is within the highly prospective Zuleika Shear Zone, which hosts numerous high-grade gold deposits.
Other results were:
- 12 metres at 2.00 g/t from 36 metres; - 4 metres at 8.13 g/t from 60 metres; - 8 metres at 1.92 g/t from 96 metres and 4 metres at 7.67 g/t from 112 metres; and - 13 metres at 1.44 g/t from 43 metres, 6 metres at 1.00 g/t from 66 metres and 3 metres at 2.70 g/t from 112 metres.
Open in all directions
Mineralisation was intercepted to the north, south and east beyond the current resource envelope and remains open in all directions.
There were also 24 exploration aircore and RC holes for 1,666 metres completed 2.5 kilometres northwest of Anthill.
This drilling confirmed two new prospects – Fire Ant and Tree Ant.
Anthill Gold Project regional prospect and geology plan.
Best results were:
- 5 metres at 2.45 g/t from 33 metres and 1 metre at 0.91 g/t from 44 metres; - 4 metres at 0.69 g/t from 32 metres and 8 metres at 1.37 g/t from 80 metres; and - 4 metres at 1.08 g/t from 72 metres.
Drilling at Binduli and Blister Dam
Further assays from Anthill are expected this quarter and the rigs are now drilling at the Binduli and Blister Dam gold projects.
Additional resource drilling is planned for the Anthill South and Anthill East areas in 2019, together with further resource extension drilling to the north and at depth.
Exploration drilling is also planned for the regional prospects in 2019.
Tree Ant and Fire Ant offer the potential for significant mineralisation beneath a highly depleted weathering profile.
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Intermin has started open pit mine development studies with initial optimisation and design work expected for completion in the first quarter of 2019.
Intermin’s resource base.
Additional test work will also be completed on new representative samples to confirm previous results where recoveries ranged from 93% to 99% with a high gravity recoverable component.
The statutory approvals process has also started ahead of a feasibility study release planned for 2019.