Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX:MEK) continues to deliver high-grade gold from diamond drilling at Turnberry Central Prospect within the Murchison Gold Project in Western Australia, fielding nuggetty visible gold with grades up to 190.85 g/t.
The latest assays from seven diamond drill holes targeting below the 2021 scoping study open pit shell have returned high-grades and broad mineralised zones including:
- 1-metre at 28.23 g/t gold from 330 metres, including 0.09 metres at 190.85 g/t;
- 1-metre at 15.60 g/t from 305 metres; and
- 18 metres at 4.41 g/t from 252 metres, including 10 metres at 7.26 g/t.
Notably, the assays confirm the high-grade nature of the western lode, which contains nuggety visible gold.
Moving forward, Meeka will undertake a mineral resource update incorporating shallow drilling from the western flank, results from the high-grade western lode and from below the 2021 scoping study open pit shell which will be released in the December quarter.
Potential underground mine
Meeka managing director Tim Davidson said: “These results continue to demonstrate the broad zones of gold at Turnberry extend below the 2021 scoping study open pit design.
“Importantly, the high-grade western lode located 20-50 metres to the west of the main lode was confirmed to extend 150 metrres to the south of previous intersections where visible gold was also logged in drill holes.
“The western lode is a potential underground mine below the planned open pit.
“We are now seeing the depth potential of this highly fertile 7-kilometre shear system that hosts both Turnberry and St Anne’s.
Drilling at St Anne’s
Momentum continues to build at St Anne’s, 3.5 kilometres to the south of Turnberry, where drilling has targeted shallow oxide mineralisation, with results including:
- 32 metres at 16.07 g/t gold from 48 metres, including 16 metres at 28.59 g/t;
- 20 metres at 20.74 g/t from 48 metres, including 16 metres at 24.86 g/t; and
- 32 metres at 2.20 g/t from 48 metres, including 20 metres at 3.31 g/t.
Davidson adds: “With these results from Turnberry in hand, our focus is now on drilling out St Anne’s, targeting primary mineralisation in the fresh rock.
“Diamond drilling at St Anne’s will commence in early October 2022.
“This will, provide additional capacity to target primary mineralisation in the fresh rock, while also gathering important structural information about the St Anne’s mineralisation.
“Shallow strike extensional drilling into the oxide zones remains ongoing at St Anne’s.”
Forward plan
Meeka has kicked off reverse circulation (RC) drilling targeting primary mineralisation in the fresh rock, with assay results expected in mid-October 2022.
The company has also engaged a diamond drilling contractor who is mobilising to the site in early October 2022.
This will provide additional capacity to target primary mineralisation in the fresh rock, while also gathering important structural information about St Anne’s mineralisation and various other technical information to facilitate an initial mineral resource estimate.
Furthermore, metallurgical samples have been collected from mineralised intervals at St Anne’s and an initial metallurgical program has been commissioned with results expected in the December quarter.