Argent Minerals (ASX:ARD) has received regulatory approvals to commence its first systematic drilling program at the Trunkey Creek Gold Project in New South Wales.
The company expects to begin diamond and reverse circulation drilling in early September, marking the first modern drill test of the historic goldfield located approximately 9km southeast of Argent’s flagship Kempfield Project.
The phase one program comprises 10 holes totalling approximately 1,000m, designed to test priority targets within a 4.7km gold-mineralised structural corridor.
Drilling will target westerly dipping structures identified through surface exploration that have returned rock chip assays up to 1,930 grams per tonne gold (Au) and most recently 73.3g/t Au.
CEO Mike McKevitt says Trunkey has developed from a ‘historical gold story into a drill‑ready opportunity’.
“What makes Trunkey particularly interesting is that this goldfield has never been systematically tested with modern drilling,” McKevitt notes.
“Historical miners worked high-grade reefs at relatively shallow depths and, according to historical accounts, groundwater rather than an absence of gold was a significant constraint on deeper mining.”
Historical records indicate mining at Wilson’s Reef ceased when the main shaft reached 615 feet (187m) despite the reef remaining ‘payable from the grass to 615 feet’ before groundwater issues forced abandonment in 1885.
The company has appointed Orange‑based Chief Drilling as contractor, with at least one rig secured for the program. Argent expects assay results approximately six weeks after drilling commences.
The program has been structured to provide flexibility for rapid expansion should results validate the high‑grade surface mineralisation.
Argent Minerals’ systematic exploration at Trunkey has progressively transformed the historic goldfield through mapping historical workings, surface geochemistry sampling, and structural interpretation.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Argent Minerals
