Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) is building the case for a gold resource upgrade at its Theia deposit, part of the Mandilla Project in Western Australia, with the results from the latest drilling program.
Assays have been received from a 70-hole, 6,512m infill reverse circulation drilling program targeting an upgrade of Theia’s inferred resources to the higher confidence indicated category.
Some of the highlighted hits include 8m @ 1.82 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 29m, including 2m @ 25.9g/t gold; 10m @ 5.33g/t gold from 38m, including 1m @ 37.5g/t gold; and 1m @ 233g/t gold from 15m.
Managing Director Marc Ducler says the company is increasing its exploration and drilling efforts on multiple fronts to advance the Mandilla Prefeasibility Study (PFS) as quickly as possible.
“The recent 70-hole for 6,512m infill drill program at Theia was designed to ensure that the stage one and stage two pits, as contemplated in the Mandilla Scoping Study, had the necessary drill density to satisfy the requirement for the mineral resources in this area to be classified as indicated,” Ducler says.
“The assay results from this program will support that outcome.
“Our attention at Mandilla is now turning to an infill reverse circulation program at Iris, for which 90% of the mineral resource is currently categorised as inferred. This program will focus on the higher grade portion of the Iris deposit. If this program is successful, further drilling will be undertaken.”
Ducler adds that four pre-collars have been completed at Theia ahead of the expected arrival of a diamond drill rig late this month.
Drilling will comprise four diamond tail infill tests to feed into an updated resource estimate for the deposit, which is expected in the March quarter of 2025.
Further, the reverse circulation drill rig has now relocated to Mandilla to complete a 20-hole for 3,579m infill drilling program. This program will support Iris’ inclusion in the upcoming PFS.
Once drilling is completed, a 16-hole for 2,540m extensional drilling program will be conducted to test for extensions to the fresh rock gold mineralisation at the Eos deposit.
Astral says as part of the current drilling program at Mandilla, several holes will be drilled for the purpose of groundwater testing to support the hydrogeological study stream of the PFS.
Ducler says the recently completed drilling program at Kamperman targeted extensions to the north and north-east of the interpreted mineralised envelope.
“If this drilling is successful in extending the mineralised envelope, then a significant infill program will be required,” he says.
Meanwhile, the updated resource estimate for the Feysville deposit is expected shortly and will kick off several technical workstreams at the project. The workstream is aimed at collecting necessary data to allow for Feysville’s development, as part of Mandilla’s PFS.
“This is an exciting time for the company following the strongly supported institutional capital raise completed in late September,” Ducler says.
“Astral now has the balance sheet strength to accelerate our exploration efforts at both Mandilla and Feysville and complete the necessary project studies as we advance towards becoming a plus-100,000 ounces per annum gold producer in the heart of the Kalgoorlie Goldfields.”
The Mandilla Project sits in the northern Widgiemooltha greenstone belt, 70km south of the mining centre of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
Astral Resources will be presenting at the Noosa Mining Conference, which is being held at the Peppers Noosa Resort from 13-15 November 2024.
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Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Astral Resources
