Astro Resources NL’s (ASX:ARO) geological mapping and rock-chip sampling has delivered encouraging preliminary results from the company’s recently pegged mining lode claims at the Needles Gold Project in Nevada, USA.
The company engaged consultant geologist Elliott Crist to oversee and perform the exploration.
Crist has previously worked with Astro, having carried out the successful field mapping and sampling program for the company in September 2020 that led to Astro commissioning the DC/IP and Seismic geophysical surveys in January 2021.
Those very encouraging survey results prompted Astro to accept Crist’s recommendation to peg a further 26 Lode claims adjacent to the northwest of the existing 113 claims.
Needles Property with new claims in pale blue, IP and seismic survey lines, and IP anomaly
Within the northwest section of the new claims, some areas of alteration were observed in a layer of ash-flow tuff.
A total of 32 samples were collected and submitted to ALS Global at Reno Nevada for assay.
Due to the high demand on the laboratories, the results are not expected until sometime in August 2021.
Significantly, a unit of impervious welded tuff was identified beneath this upper tuff.
Such impervious units act as a barrier to ascending mineralising fluids.
The volcanics beneath this unit are therefore potential hosts to gold mineralisation similar to the Round Mountain gold deposit which the company believes may be present within the Needles property.
This new area was not included in the IP and seismic surveys carried out earlier this year. However, Astro intends to carry out similar surveys over the area in due course.
Fast track drilling
Astro has secured a drilling contractor to undertake the drilling of four diamond holes to test the IP anomaly identified earlier this year.
The drilling company has indicated provisional availability for early in the first quarter of 2022.
To fast track the drilling, Astro is also progressing discussions with other drilling companies to attempt to secure a rig for later this year.
- Ephrems Joseph