Aureka (ASX:AKA) has observed visible gold at two shallow positions in a diamond hole drilled beneath the Walkers pit at its St Arnaud Comstock Gold Project in Victoria.
Hole NED035 contains visible gold grains measuring 1–2mm at 21.7m downhole, about 18m vertically beneath the pit surface. A further 13 grains measuring 0.5–2mm were observed at 61.2m downhole, about 40m below the surface.
The observations are Aureka’s first visible gold occurrences within the secondary Walkers structures, which branch southeast from the main Comstock Shear Structure.
However, the company cautions that visual observations do not indicate grade and are not a substitute for laboratory analysis. Assay results are expected within three to five weeks.
Managing Director James Gurry says the location of the visible gold supports Aureka’s work towards proposed small-scale production at Comstock.
“I’m impressed to see Comstock delivering again with at least two occurrences of visible gold, this time located within the pit we have targeted for first production,” Gurry adds.
“We drilled seven diamond holes at Comstock in 2025, with significant gold and/or silver results in six of these holes — this repeated success in a previously mined pit demonstrates the value we have at Comstock.”
The shallower occurrence is hosted in bedding-parallel quartz veining, while the deeper grains occur within a 3cm-thick quartz vein associated with a larger en-echelon extension vein set.
NED035 forms part of a 1,100m diamond drilling program comprising 13 holes averaging less than 100m deep. The company says the campaign is designed to validate historical results, increase drill density, and provide samples for metallurgical testing.
Aureka says the additional data could support the reclassification of part of Comstock’s inferred mineral resource into a higher-confidence category.
Historical Walkers pit results include 14m @ 7.2 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 18m and 2.2m @ 27.40g/t Au from 63.2m.
Comstock hosts an inferred mineral resource containing 56,000 ounces @ 1.21g/t Au. Aureka has a binding toll-milling agreement with the Wedderburn Gold Mill and is progressing licensing ahead of proposed production.
Aureka is an Australia exploration company focused on advancing gold in Victoria’s historic goldfields. Its Irvine Project near Stawell hosts an inferred mineral resource containing 398,000 ounces of gold.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Aureka
