Australian Gold and Copper (ASX:AGC) reports broad ‘zinc-rich’ mineralisation carrying consistent gold that extends across multiple diamond drill holes at its Evergreen prospect in New South Wales. The prospect forms part of the company’s South Cobar Project.
The latest assays continue to define a coherent zinc and gold-rich polymetallic system across the northern Evergreen zone. Results also show substantial widths of mineralisation consistently accompanied by silver, copper, and lead.
The results demonstrate continuity across multiple holes and significant vertical extent.
Hole 26DDBR011 returned 14m @ 0.5 grams per tonne gold (Au), 5g/t silver (Ag), 5.6% zinc (Zn), and 1.8% lead (Pb) from 195m. Results include 1m @ 0.3g/t Au, 14g/t Ag, 26.4% Zn, and 3.9% Pb from 196m.
The same hole returned 17m @ 0.3g/t Au, 8g/t Ag, 3.7% Zn, and 1.5% Pb from 214m, including 13m @ 0.4g/t Au, 9g/t Ag, 4.2% Zn, and 1.7% Pb from 214m.
Additional results include 15m @ 0.4g/t Au, 6g/t Ag, 3% Zn, and 2.6% Pb from 186m in 26DDBR016, including 1m @ 0.8g/t Au, 14g/t Ag, 6.3% Zn, and 6% Pb from 189m.
Meanwhile, hole 26DDBR012 returned 7m @ 0.5g/t Au, 6g/t Ag, 3.9% Zn, and 1.8% Pb from 165m. This includes 4m @ 0.8g/t Au, 8g/t Ag, 4.8% Zn, and 2.3% Pb from 166m.
The results complement previously reported holes including 26DDBR007, which returned 21m @ 0.4g/t Au, 5g/t Ag, 4.1% Zn, and 2.3% Pb from 229m.
Gold grades of approximately 0.3–0.8g/t occur consistently across many of the broader mineralised intervals. These grades provide a precious-metal contribution to the polymetallic system. Zinc is consistently the dominant base metal, reaching a peak interval grade of 26.4% Zn in 26DDBR011.
Follow-up on the western ‘high-grade’ zone
AGC has completed a 21-hole reverse circulation (RC) program totalling 2,593m. The program tested extensions up-dip and along strike from the shallow ‘high-grade’ gold-silver-base metal zone intersected in 26DDBR017.
The same hole returned 17m @ 5.3g/t Au, 163g/t Ag, 0.8% copper (Cu), and 17.3% Pb+Zn from 128m. This includes 8m @ 10.4g/t Au, 311g/t Ag, 1.2% Cu, and 29% Pb+Zn from 129m. Assays are pending.
Managing Director Glen Diemar says the system continues to expand with every hole.
“Evergreen continues to grow with every drill hole returning strong results, continually expanding the footprint,” Diemar adds.
“The width of these strong zinc and gold results is very pleasing. The Evergreen system is open in all directions, and we continue to delineate new mineralised structures to the west.
“Most of the recent 21 holes were targeting our recent western discovery zone where 26DDBR017 returned a very broad, exceptionally high-grade intercept. With so many holes in this zone we eagerly await these results.”
Copper is emerging as an increasingly important component. Drilling has intersected 35m @ 0.5% Cu in 26DDBR006, including 6m @ 2% Cu and 4m @ 2.5% Cu, and 10m @ 0.7% Cu in 26DDBR010, including 2m @ 1.7% Cu.
The drill rig has moved to the Achilles deposit to test regional targets and infill gaps in the shallow indicated resource. Initial RC assay results are expected in late October to early November.
Australian Gold and Copper is an Australian explorer advancing a portfolio of gold, copper, and base metals assets in NSW’s Lachlan Fold Belt.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Australian Gold and Copper
