Auric Mining (ASX:AWJ) has reported ‘strong’ drilling results from its Munda Gold Project in Western Australia as the company advances towards a mining restart in 2027.
Western extension drilling has returned 4m @ 10.49 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 46m, supporting potential resource growth beyond the current pit design.
The company says this intercept, along with other mineralised zones, shows similar characteristics to other areas of the Munda resource.
Grade control drilling targeting the upper 30m of the planned pit continues to demonstrate strong near-surface mineralisation. Results include 15m @ 5.56g/t Au from 6m, including 3m @ 19.30g/t Au, and 4m @ 19.34g/t Au from 9m, including 2m @ 38.10g/t Au.
Additional significant intercepts from the grade control program include 9m @ 7.82g/t Au from 17m, 14m @ 3.92g/t Au from 6m, and 10m @ 4.66g/t Au from 13m.
Managing Director Mark English says the results provide an ‘encouraging start’ to the program at Munda.
“The high-grade extensional intercept of 4m at 10.49g/t gold supports the potential to grow the resource along strike beyond the current pit design,” English notes.
“[Meanwhile,] the grade control results continue to demonstrate strong near-surface mineralisation within the planned open pit.”
The company has completed 92 grade control holes for 2,226m using a 5m by 5m spacing pattern. Drilling will define ore blocks down to approximately 30m depth and support the ramp-up to full production alongside commissioning of the 600,000-tonne-per-annum Burbanks processing plant.
Four geotechnical diamond holes totalling 580m have been completed to determine pit wall parameters for the Stage Two pit design. The company expects to publish ore reserves in October following completion of optimisation and pit design work.
Sterilisation drilling of the proposed waste dump location continues, with 29 reverse circulation holes completed for 1,475m. Extension drilling will also recommence to target depth extensions at the western end of the planned pit.
“With extension and grade control drilling continuing, geotechnical drilling complete, and final pit design and ore reserve work advancing, we are steadily derisking the next stage of development ahead of the planned recommencement of mining in 2027,” English adds.
Auric Mining is an Australian gold producer and developer with a portfolio of assets across Western Australia’s Goldfields region, alongside exploration for nickel, lithium, and rare earth elements.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Auric Mining
