PVW Resources NL (ASX:PVW) will this month begin ground-based exploration activities following a decade of absence at Tanami Gold Project on the border of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
A ground-based program will begin at the Watts Rise prospect testing for surface gold and pathfinders along the Watts Trend and further afield .
The company also aims to complete detailed geophysical coverage of the project with a 16,000-line kilometre airborne survey to start on August 20, 2021.
Importantly, PVW’s interpretation of airborne geophysics will focus on defining new regional drill targets and refining existing targets in preparation for drilling later this year.
“Lack of detailed interpretation”
PVW executive director George Bauk said: “It is hard to believe that the last hole drilled at the project, which intersected highly significant mineralisation, has not been followed up in nearly a decade.
“Drilling at the Watts Rise prospect has intersected multiple gold horizons but there has been a lack of detailed geological interpretation undertaken by previous explorers.
“We are now on the ground and about to commence the next chapter of exploration. Over the past decade, we have seen Northern Star develop a significant landholding in the Tanami Region and most recently Encounter Resources has announced its intent to spin out its Tanami project into a new company focused on the region.”
Previous drilling results
The gold mineralisation discovered in the last decade provides a drill-ready target at Watts Rise.
Drilling by previous tenement holders at Watts Rise intersected gold mineralisation, open along strike to the northwest-southeast and down-dip, including:
- 16 metres at 2.48 g/t gold from 60 metres;
- 12 metres at 2.94 g/t from surface;
- 16 metres at 0.88 g/t from 52 metres, including 8 metres at 1.55 g/t from 52 metres; and
- 12 metres at 1.5 g/t from 44 metres.
Bauk adds: “The potential of the region is highlighted by the world-class Callie deposit, which is owned and operated by Newmont Gold, the world’s largest gold company.
“Only a handful of companies hold significant land positions in the region, and we are 100% holders of over 1,000 square kilometres of contiguous tenements with outstanding drill intersections to work with.
“Our team is employing a structured approach to the exploration activities with the completion of detailed airborne geophysical coverage and on-ground activities prior to the company’s maiden Tanami drilling program planned for the end of the year.”
Results and interpretations will assist in planning substantial exploration drilling campaigns for 2021- 2022.
Potential for structurally controlled mineralisation
Structurally controlled gold mineralisation in the Tanami is well known and with the Coyote Gold deposit on its doorstep, this style of mineralisation will be a focus for PVW’s geophysical interpretation and on-ground field campaigns.
The Watts Rise mineralisation demonstrates structural controls, increased foliation in mineralised drill intersections and is overall sub-parallel to regional shear zones.
Exploration while initially for gold and rare earth elements (REE), will consider evaluation for other commodities during geophysical interpretation, targeting and on-ground activities.
Bauk adds: “The project is well serviced with the Tanami Road intersecting the southern part of our tenement holding and the Coyote Gold Mine Camp provides a convenient and close base to operate from.
“We have expertise in our team on a number of fronts including a long history of exploring in the area for multiple commodities, gold exploration expertise globally and operational experience in the immediate region.
“The journey is now beginning for PVW in the Tanami and we look forward to the outcomes of our efforts in the coming quarters and years.”
Forward plan
PVW’s field program will focus on visiting historical drill areas, conducting a ground-based review of outcrops, testing samples on the ground with XRF, systematically soil sampling suitable areas along strike and assessing other areas with orientation soil sampling to validate the ultrafine technique over the covered area.
Over the next month, the company will complete an airborne survey for targeting gold and REE which, following interpretation, will provide the exploration team with invaluable information required to plan regional drilling for 2021-2022.
- Ephrems Joseph