Astro Resources NL (ASX:ARO) has secured a diamond drill rig for a four-hole drilling program at the Needles property in Nevada, USA, to test a large and strong induced polarisation (IP) chargeability anomaly defined earlier this year.
The company believes that the IP anomaly is due to the presence of disseminated pyrite, which may be associated with gold mineralisation of a similar type to the Round Mountain Gold Deposit, 100 kilometres to the north.
Additionally, Astro plans to drill a fourth hole that will target mineralisation beneath the Tomahawk Shaft and workings at the western margin of the IP anomaly.
The drill contractor has confirmed that the drill rig will be available in November and that drilling will be conducted on a double shift basis to speed the work and ensure that drilling is completed by the end of the year.
Strong potential to discover gold mineralisation
Astro chairman Jacob Khouri said: “We are excited to have finally secured a drill rig for the latter part of this year, particularly at a time where there is unprecedented demand for drilling services in Nevada.
“We believe that there is a strong potential to discover significant gold mineralisation at Needles and look forward to delivering exciting news to our shareholders”.
Next steps
Three 500 metre diamond drill-holes have been planned to test the interpreted mineralisation with two planned to test the central portion of the mineralisation in two directions, which will maximise the possibility of intersecting higher-grade structures, irrespective of their orientations.
The third will test a second chargeability high centred about 500 metres to the southeast.
Astro will be seeking to provide expedited preliminary assay results as they become available.
Further updates on timing will be provided once the program has been put into place.