Star Minerals Ltd (ASX:SMS) has delivered high-grade gold results from phase two resource definition drilling at the Tumblegum South Gold Project in Western Australia.
Standout assays include:
- 4 metres at 16.8 g/t from 155 metres;
- 3 metres at 14.74 g/t from 141 metres; and
- 4 metres at 8.23 g/t from 73 metres.
The drill program confirms the geology and grade characteristics of Tumblegum South and provides confidence that the deposit is suitable for further work leading to a mining project study.
“Untested potential targets”
Star Minerals CEO Greg Almond said: “We are very satisfied to have completed this phase 2 resource definition program.
“The assays confirm our initial assessment of Tumblegum South and further support our decision to progress with our efforts to define and develop this gold deposit.
“These assays and geological logging provide further information to support the existing resource and give us further untested potential targets.
“The results confirm the tonnage and grade information that we have for Tumblegum South, and will provide more information for an updated resource model as we progress our strategy to develop, mine and monetise this asset.”
Drill program
Star was able to execute the planned drilling program during May and submit its samples on time building on the results of its inaugural drill program completed in December 2021.
The phase two program comprised 2,669 metres of drilling across 25 holes. The original plans were for 2,448 metres, with a number of holes extended during the course of drilling based on field geological logging.
Tumblegum South resource
Tumblegum South has an existing inferred resource estimate which totals 600,000 tonnes, at a grade of 2.2 g/t gold.
The existing mining lease ML51/888 is directly along strike from the Tumblegum Pit which was mined by Dominion during the 1987-1992 Gabanintha Gold Mine joint venture.
Forward plan
Star's recent drilling, sampling and assay work from two phases of drilling shows that the company is determined to execute on its strategy to immediately explore and develop the Tumblegum South asset.
This latest drilling and the accompanying assays provide more information on the geology and mineralisation of Tumblegum South and give the company confidence that the deposit is suitable for further work leading to a mining project study.
These results will also be used to inform further Resource work at Tumblegum – this work is currently underway, with initial work undertaken, and the remainder to be completed once all results are returned.