Meteoric Resources NL (ASX:MEI) will begin a 21-hole diamond drilling program at its Novo Astro Gold Project in Brazil, where a large soil anomaly and rock chip samples grading up to 290.13 g/t gold have confirmed mineralisation at multiple targets.
The program will focus on four initial targets with a planned 2,500 metres while concurrent induced polarisation (IP) and magnetic surveys are planned to generate further drill targets.
Rock chip sampling confirms mineralisation at multiple targets
Meteoric managing director Andrew Tunks said recent mapping at Novo Astro had recognised thick zones of alteration and mineralisation within basement rocks that have been the target of extensive artisanal mining.
He noted recent reconnaissance rock chip samples, which include 5 samples grading over 1 g/t gold, confirmed mineralisation of at multiple targets warranting immediate testing.
Grades of 8.75 g/t and 4.72 g/t, along with 2.42 g/t and 2.21 g/t, reinforce and exceed historic rock chip sampling results of up 264 g/t.
Four initial prospects
Tunks said: “The initial drill program will target the depth potential of significant gold mineralised structures that can be mapped and sampled in the extensive Garimpeiro workings across Novo Astro.
“To this end, four initial prospects have been defined for us to commence drilling.”
Geophysical surveys to define main geologic structures
Meteoric’s geology team is also in the initial stages of planning geophysical surveys including the use of magnetic data to help define the main geologic structures in the area as well as a detailed pole-dipole IP survey.
Induced polarisation is considered the appropriate technique for the identification of disseminated sulphides at depth and the recent mapping and sampling shows a strong correlation between gold and pyrite.
Only surface exploration undertaken
The alteration and mineralisation observed at Novo Astro is defined by strong hydrothermal alteration corridors hosted by granitic rocks.
Unlike the company’s Juruena project, for which core data from drilling is currently being logged and sampled, Novo Astro has only been explored by surface exploration works.
Both projects comprise the most prospective cluster of targets within Meteoric’s Brazilian portfolio, containing most of the alluvial and primary mineralisation artisanal activities.
Artisanal mining began at the end of the 1960s and amounted to manual production of around 1 million ounces of gold.
Gold-pyrite association confirmed
Tunks added: “Planning is underway to commence geophysical programs across Novo Astro, initially these will include magnetics which will assist in our structural interpretation and an IP survey which can locate disseminated sulphides.
“The current round of rock chip sampling has confirmed the gold-pyrite association and we feel that IP could provide an excellent tool to direct our drilling.”