Alto Metals Ltd (ASX:AME) has received further positive assay results from step-out drilling at Vanguard Camp, around 8 kilometres northwest of the Lords Corridor, as part of its ongoing major drilling program at the 100%-owned Sandstone Gold Project in WA.
The company has received strong results from the latest four-metre composite samples from 13 wide-spaced (80 metres x 80 metres) step-out holes for a total of 2,696 metres reverse circulation (RC) drilling at Vanguard.
Best results include:
- 28 metres at 1.5 g/t gold from 132 metres including 4 metres at 4.3 g/t from 152 metres;
- 8 metres at 1.8 g/t from 144 metres including 4 metres at 2.9 g/t from 144 metres;
- 4 metres at 2.0 g/t from 64 metres; and
- 4 metres at 1.4 g/t from 40 metres.
“Very exciting prospect”
Alto’s managing director Matthew Bowles said: “Vanguard is rapidly emerging as a very exciting prospect.
“Drilling has now defined mineralisation, together with Vanguard North, over a two-kilometre northwest-southeast trend that remains open.
“We are confident that further drilling will demonstrate the growth potential not only at Vanguard but also regionally, along the much larger 20 kilometres corridor of differentiated dolerite that also hosts the Indomitable and Havilah deposits.”
Extensions of known mineralisation
Bowles said: “Drilling is continuing at the Lords Corridor, where we now have two RC rigs and one diamond rig following up on the recently announced high-grade results targeting extensions of known mineralisation.
“A number of four-metre and one-metre assay results are still pending and these will further assist with our ongoing exploration targeting and future resource work.
“It is a very busy time on site with lot of activity as we continue to advance the project.”
Fire assay results
The company has also received new one-metre fire assay results for four RC holes, previously reported as four-metre composites.
These results include:
- 10 metres at 3.3 g/t gold from 135 metres including 1-metre at 11.9 g/t from 137 metres;
- 36 metres at 0.5 g/t from 51 metres;
- 9 metres at 2.0 g/t from 120 metres including 1-metre at 10.3 g/t from 126 metres; and
- 12 metres at 1.4 g/t from 133 metres.
According to the company, these latest results highlight the continuity of gold mineralisation at Vanguard and provide a likelihood of further resource growth with multiple intercepts outside the current resource.
Mineralisation remains open
Gold mineralisation at Vanguard is hosted within a NW-SE trending differentiated dolerite package and is predominantly associated with quartz-pyrite veins in carbonate alteration haloes.
The differentiated dolerite and granophyre texture occur within a sequence of mafic rocks, with the overall stratigraphy intruded by numerous felsic intrusions.
Recent drilling has clearly defined mineralisation at the Vanguard and Vanguard North trends, with both extended along strike and down dip.
Overall mineralisation of these trends is now defined over 2,000 metres and remains open.
Current drilling program
Currently, the company has two RC rigs and one diamond rig drilling at Sandstone Gold Project.
The first diamond hole targeting the down-plunge extensions at Lord Nelson has been completed along with two diamond holes at the Orion Lode.
Due to heavy rain, both the diamond and RC rigs were moved to complete two planned diamond holes and 28 RC holes at Lord Henry.
The company has completed a total of 918 metres of diamond drilling, and now both rigs have been moved back to Lord Nelson.
Before moving rigs, the company also completed planned holes at Vanguard and Indomitable.
The arrival of a second RC rig will allow follow-up drilling at Vanguard and infill drilling at Lord Nelson and Lord Henry.
Assays pending
The company is awaiting assay results from remaining 84 RC holes and five diamond holes from more than 16,000 metres of drilling.
Delays are being experienced in assay turnaround time due to an increased level of exploration activities.
Alto has extended the current drilling based on assay results received to date and it may be further expanded once the outstanding assays are received.