Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) has reported assay results from 47 holes of ongoing infill drilling at the Theia deposit within its Mandilla Gold Project near Kalgoorlie.
The program aims to convert stage one open pit resources to the higher-confidence measured category.
The company received results from 5,107m of reverse circulation drilling designed to de-risk early mine development.
Results include 4m @ 16.4 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 58m, including 1m @ 61.3g/t Au, and 10m @ 5.13g/t Au from 37m, including 1m @ 41.8g/t Au from 40m.
Additional significant intersections include 2m @ 6.89g/t Au from 14m, including 1m @ 13.2g/t Au; 10m @ 1.04g/t Au from 34m; and 4m @ 11.5g/t Au from 50m, including 1m @ 40.7g/t Au.
Further results feature 9m @ 5.14g/t Au from 77m, including 1m @ 39g/t Au, and 2m @ 22g/t Au from 44m, including 1m @ 43.5g/t Au.
The assay results continue to validate the current geological and mineral resource model for Theia, comprising broad, consistent grade intervals within laterally continuous zones of quartz-sulphide veining that dip shallowly to the southwest.
“The three-phase Theia stage one infill program is progressively tightening drill spacing to 12.5m by 12.5m, providing the confidence required to support the declaration of Measured Resources across the stage one mining inventory,” Managing Director Marc Ducler says.
“The latest assays continue to demonstrate the continuity of broad mineralised zones containing very high-grade shoots, specifically within the logged zones of quartz-sulphide veining and the corresponding zones of more intense alteration within the host granite.”
The Theia deposit hosts a mineral resource estimate of 41Mt @ 1.1g/t Au for 1.4Moz of contained gold. In the production case outlined in the Mandilla Prefeasibility Study, Theia contributes 1.1Moz or approximately 75% of the 1.48Moz total.
The stage one open pit encompasses 4.2Mt @ 1.1g/t gold for 146,000oz over the first 21 months with a 4:1 strip ratio.
Two drill rigs are currently operating at Mandilla, with Astral Resources expecting the program to continue through the remainder of 2026.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Astral Resources
