Anglo Australian Resources (ASX: AAR) has identified ‘significant’ gold anomalism from regional AC drilling at its 100%‐owned Mandilla Gold Project near Kalgoorlie.
The mineralisation was identified via work across all three drill lines completed to the south‐east of the Eos discovery, with encouraging first‐pass results including:
- Hole MDAC276: 28m @ 1.38g/t Au from 46m
- Hole MDAC272: 9m @ 2.30g/t Au from 50m
- Hole MDAC278: 14m @ 0.95g/t Au from 46m
- Hole MDAC274: 4m @ 1.61g/t Au from 49m
Further gold anomalism was detected across four lines of drilling up to 900m north of the Theia deposit. Best results include:
- Hole MDAC195: 4m @ 358ppb Au from 40m
- Hole MDAC197: 5m @ 295ppb Au from 56m
- Hole MDAC158: 9m @ 99ppb Au from 64m
Meanwhile, metallurgical diamond drill‐hole MDRCD512 at Theia returned results including 15.1m @ 1.46g/t Au from 127.1 m and 45.7m @ 0.94g/t Au from 149 m.
According to the company, the results highlight the potential for further discoveries and resource extensions at Mandilla, and continue to demonstrate ‘significant upside’ across the broader project area.
Commenting on the results, Anglo Australian Resources Managing Director Marc Ducler said: “Assays from the air‐core drill program completed late in 2021 has provided the team with significant encouragement. A strong gold anomaly is starting to take shape along strike to the south‐east of the Eos discovery under approximately 45 metres of cover. In addition to this new discovery zone, we are also seeing gold anomalism across several lines of air‐core up to 900 metres north of the main Theia deposit.
“A strong gold anomaly is starting to take shape along strike to the south‐east of the Eos discovery under approximately 45 metres of cover”
The significance of air‐core results such as this is the similarity in grade and width to historic air‐core drilling which eventually led to the discovery of the 658,000oz Theia deposit.
A diamond drill‐hole (MDRCD512) completed for metallurgical test purposes at Theia also delivered strong gold results with visible gold and gold mineralisation being reported to the bottom of the hole. Logging of the diamond drill core from the program completed in December 2021 is progressing well. Logging is expected to be completed by the end of February with assay results expected in the current quarter.
RC and air‐core drilling are expected to resume late this quarter, pending rig availability.”
The company had recently completed an AC drilling program and the first of fourteen‐diamond drillholes at the Mandilla project. A total of 293 AC holes were drilled over 15 traverses, totalling 10,260m.
Twelve traverses were drilled along strike to the north‐west of Theia, while three were drilled along strike to the south‐east of Eos. Hole MDRCD512 was drilled as an HQ diamond hole for metallurgical test purposes to a down‐hole depth of 351.71m.
Theia cross‐section highlighting diamond hole MDRCD512Assay results have now been reported from MDRCD512 and 293 AC holes. Four of the 12 traverses drilled along strike to the north‐west of Theia and all three traverses drilled along strike to the south‐east of Eos returned anomalous gold results.
Importantly, 14 instances of visible gold were observed in MDRCD512 from 128.4m to 335.7m down‐hole.
Looking forward, AAR reports that it is planning follow up AC, RC, and diamond drilling as part of its 2022 work plan, with work expected to recommence by the end of March pending rig availability.
Images: Anglo Australian Resources NL
