Bardoc Gold Limited (ASX: BDC) announced the intersection of broad zones of shallow high-grade mineralisation at the cornerstone Aphrodite Gold Deposit, part of its flagship Bardoc Gold Project, located 40km north of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
The company said that the recent drilling has further expanded the shallow Sigma Lode target and extended Gamma Lode, intersecting broad, high-grade mineralisation outside the current Resource including 5m @ 17.7g/t Au from 109m in 21APRC0019.
BDC said that the new intercepts, which are all located outside the current Resource model, highlight the potential for future upgrades and possible incorporation in Ore Reserves once modelling and optimisations are completed.
Bardoc said that diamond drilling is underway to test depth extensions at Zoroastrian, outside the current Resource. The company said that air-core drilling across the Bardoc Tectonic Zone is now complete with assays awaited.
BDC said that financing discussions for the Bardoc Gold Project are progressing, with a Final Investment Decision on track for the September 2021 Quarter.
Drilling at Bardoc project
BDC had recently commenced first-pass programs at the Sigma and Gamma Lodes, part of the Aphrodite Deposit within the Bardoc Gold Project. The Aphrodite deposit is a multi-lode system located 20km north of the Excelsior/Zoroastrian deposits.
Previously reported results from Sigma lode had included 21m @ 3.94g/t Au from 147m including 7m @ 6.12g/t Au from 161m 20APRC0013; 7m @ 2.77g/t Au from 177m in 20APRC0015; 8m @ 2.92g/t Au from 78m in 20APRC0024; 10m @ 1.23g/t Au from 56m in 20APRC0015; and 9m @ 1.51g/t Au from 69m in 20APRC0029.
The company has now reported new drilling results from broader Aphrodite region. The company said that the drilling demonstrated the huge upside potential which the Company was only just beginning to unlock as it continued its steady progress towards financing and development this year.
High-grade results from Sigma lode
The company announced that excellent new assay results were returned from the Sigma Lode, located immediately south-east of the planned open pit at the cornerstone 1.7Moz Aphrodite Deposit, part of the 3.07Moz Bardoc Gold Project.
Important results from this drilling program included 5m @ 17.7g/t Au from 109m in 21APRC0019; 15m @ 1.49g/t Au from 97m in 21APRC0027; and 7.7m @ 2.98g/t Au from 133.3m in 21APD0007.
Bardoc said that diamond core drilling on Sigma Lode has provided vital structural data, which is improving the Resource model and future exploration targeting.
Encouraging results from Gamma lode
The company said that Gamma Lode (not currently in the Resource model), located 450m east of the Alpha Reserve Pit, intersected promising geology with excellent assay results including 9m @ 2.36g/t Au from 70m in 21APRC0007; and 16m @ 1.04g/t Au from 76m in 21APRC 0008.
BDC said that future work for Gamma will include geological interpretation which will control a future resource model and also drive targeting of the likely location of the deeper underlying high-grade shear-hosted mineralisation.
What’s next?
The company said that EPC Tender review for the construction of the 2.1Mtpa gold processing plant is underway. BDC said that evaluation of recently completed air-core drilling programs is currently underway and extensional diamond core drilling is underway at Zoroastrian targeting untested areas as well as depth extensions.
Management comments
Bardoc Gold’s Chief Executive Officer Robert Ryan said: “The shallow Sigma Lode is currently not included in our Ore Reserve and the latest results will allow further mining studies to be conducted. Early mining studies have already revealed open pit potential at Sigma, with latest results showing that there is also significant underground potential at the deposit.
Meanwhile, new intersections on the Gamma lode have highlighted potential for a new mineralised zone outside of the current 1.7Moz resource. Located 450m to the east of the main Resource, Gamma has the potential, similar to Sigma lode, to provide further mining options within the greater Aphrodite area.”
Image Source: Bardoc Gold Limited
