Alice Queen (ASX:AQX) has completed stage one reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its Horn Island Gold Project in Queensland, with evidence of mineralisation across all 20 drillholes.
The stage one program comprised 20 drillholes for 4,157m, testing both interpreted higher-grade zones within the existing mineral resource estimate (MRE) footprint and broader exploration target areas extending up to 600m northwest of the resource boundary.
The company has completed sampling for the program and dispatched 3,708 samples to ALS Laboratories in Townsville.
Initial assay results are expected within two weeks, subject to quality assurance and quality control validation. The remaining results are anticipated progressively over the following four to eight weeks.
All 20 holes intersected geological features associated with the Horn Island hydrothermal system, including multiple zones of quartz veining, sericite alteration, and sulphide mineralisation.
Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer spot measurements also showed elevated responses for pathfinder and base metal elements, including arsenic, lead, zinc, and copper.
The program included six drillholes totaling 772m within the existing resource area. Horn Island holds a JORC 2012 MRE of 21.1 million tonnes @ 0.84 grams per tonne gold (Au) for 569,000 ounces.
Four holes targeted the southern margin of the West Pit area in the vicinity of historical drillhole 18NGD070. The historical hole previously returned 7m @ 22.2g/t Au from 36m, including 1m @ 41.8g/t Au and 1m @ 67.5g/t Au.
The company reports all four drillholes intersected mineralisation over an approximate 25m strike extent.
Reconnaissance panning also identified multiple visible gold grains measuring up to roughly 0.5mm in a pan-concentrate sample from hole 26NGRC004 at a downhole depth of roughly 40m.
Outside the existing resource footprint, 14 drillholes totaling 3,385m tested the exploration target. Preliminary geological interpretation suggests the intersected altered and mineralised zones form broad, shallow-plunging trends with geological similarities to the existing resource area.
Alice Queen Exploration Manager Adrian Hell says the company is ‘pleased’ to have completed stage one RC drilling at Horn Island.
“This program achieved initial testing across potential higher-grade zones within the existing mineral resource and the broader exploration target, including step-out holes up to 600m from the MRE boundary,” Hell says.
“We are now awaiting laboratory assay results, which will provide the key information required to assess the significance of the drilling completed and help guide the next phase of work at Horn Island.”
Alice Queen is a mineral explorer focused on gold, copper, and critical mineral deposits.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: Alice Queen
