Apollo Consolidated Limited (ASX: AOP) has reported new gold zones and targets at its Lake Rebecca Gold Project located 150km east of Kalgoorlie in the West Australian goldfields.
The company said that the drilling around the margins of the project area of February 2020 located new gold mineralisation in the footwall of the prospect’s high-grade Jennifer structure. Significant intersects included 12m at 2.76 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, and 16m at 4.12 g/t gold.
AOP said that the hits open potential for previously unknown structures to the east of the current mineralisation. Apollo announced that a follow-up Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling will test other near surface ‘footwall’ targets located east of existing mineralisation.
The company said that an updated mineral resource estimate is planned for the Lake Rebecca project for Q2 2021.
Diamond drilling at Lake Rebecca
Apollo had drilled four diamond holes (RCDLR0705, RCDLR0706, RCDLR0707, and RCDLR0708) for 1,393m at the flagship Rebecca deposit as part of its 2020 diamond drilling.
The drilling was done to examine initial geotechnical and rock-property testing around the margins of the A$2,250 optimised pit shell containing the reported 775,000oz Mineral Resource, in preparation for the ongoing feasibility work associated with the project.
Diamond holes RCDLR0705 and RCDLR0706 were drilled on the west side of the pit shell and had a dual purpose of testing projected extensions to mineralised structures. The DD holes RCDLR0707 and RCDLR0708 were drilled on the eastern, ‘footwall’ margin of the pit shell.
The company has now announced encouraging results from the diamond drilling at Lake Rebecca project.
New gold zones and targets unveiled
Apollo said that the results open the possibility of shallow ‘splay’ or subparallel structures to the east of Jennifer and highlight the potential for similar features along the eastern side of the gold system. Significant intercepts are as shown below.
RCDLR0708
AOP said that the DD hole RCDLR0708 drilled obliquely to the east of the high-grade Jennifer structure intersected three zones of mineralisation: 12m @ 2.76g/t Au from 183m, followed by 16m @ 4.12g/t Au from 207m (including 1m @ 36.7g/t Au) and 6m @ 5.10 g/t Au (including 1m @ 22.2g/t Au) in a location well to the east of the modelled trace of the Jennifer structure.
The company said that the intercepts point to broader potential along the lightly explored ‘footwall’ of Jennifer, and drill sites are now being prepared to commence follow-up work in this area.
RCDLR0707
Apollo reported that the DD hole RCDLR0707, also on the eastern margin of the Rebecca pit, hit 7.4m @ 4.70g/t Au from 67.6m. This shallow gold zone sits in the footwall of Jennifer, and to the south of the Maddy structure. AOP said that additional drilling is required in this lightly drilled area that offers potential to add near-surface mineralisation linking the two structures.
RCDLR0706
Apollo said that the geotechnical diamond hole RCDLR0706 on the western margin of the Rebecca optimised pit shell provided a test of the southern part of the Laura structure, intersecting two zones of alteration and disseminated sulphides that returned 10m @ 1.24 g/t Au from 303m and 17m @ 0.90g/t Au from 317m.
The company noted that the intercepts are consistent with the interpretation that the Laura structure remains open to the south and at depth and presents a key target for continued diamond drilling during 2021.
RCDLR0705
AOP reported that the geotechnical diamond hole RCDLR0705 on section 6641460N also tested the western margin of the pit shell, intersecting a series of narrow anomalous zones including 3m @ 1.26g/t Au from 397m. The company said that additional sampling has been carried out on this hole, with samples currently awaiting assay at the laboratory.
Updates and next steps
The company announced that major Rebecca mineralised structures remain open to depth and will be a focus of continued RC and diamond exploration drilling into 2021.
Apollo noted that it sees excellent potential to replicate existing mineralisation on continued drilling, particularly at depth.
AOP said that the 2021 Rebecca exploration program will include an increased diamond drilling component to allow the Company to build geological confidence in under-drilled mineralised areas below the existing 750,000oz Mineral Resource.
Apollo announced that follow-up RC drill sites are also being prepared to test other emerging shallow footwall targets located to the east of the Rebecca deposit, including around previously reported RC gold intercepts of 22m @ 1.31g/t Au (RCLR0741) and 10m @ 7.68 g/t Au (RCLR0553) east of Laura Lode.
The Company said that it remains well funded and in an excellent financial position to continue the ongoing exploration and development options analysis work at Lake Rebecca, with $18.6M in consolidated cash as of 11th January 2020. Apollo also continues to retain a valuable royalty interest over the +1Moz Seguela gold project in central Cote d’Ivoire.
Updated MRE for Lake Rebecca
The company reported that the next phases of work at the Lake Rebecca Gold Project are in progress, with an updated Mineral Resource estimation scheduled for completion in Q2 2021. The company said that the results of this work will guide its 2021 program in respect to analysis of commercial development options and prioritising resource definition and exploration drilling.
* Image source: Apollo Consolidated Limited