Barton Gold (ASX:BGD) has started a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program following the recent discovery of a new 500m long gold zone at the Area 51 prospect, as part of its Tunkillia Gold Project in South Australia.
The company says the 2,300m RC drilling has begun to follow up on recent RC assays at the 223 deposit, which confirmed ‘high-grade’ targets and new 20m+ thick zones at depth below the current 965,000 ounce (oz) gold (Au) mineral resource.
Barton adds these recent results returned from the Mains Deeps, South Plunge, and Southern Targets demonstrate gold grades up to 23.5g/t Au, and provide further support of its thesis that ‘significant’ zones of mineralisation potentially exist in historically poorly tested areas outside and below of the 2020 block model.
Drilling is expected to be completed within the next 2 weeks.
Speaking on the drilling campaign, Barton Gold Managing Director Alex Scanlon says: “Last week’s assays demonstrate the 223 Deposit’s growth potential and emphasise Tunkillia’s historical under-exploration.
“Last week’s assays demonstrate the 223 Deposit’s growth potential and emphasise Tunkillia’s historical under-exploration”
We have recently defined 3 new satellite gold zones near the 223 Deposit on the Yarlbrinda Shear, including on the other side of the shear, and we still have more than 20km of untested strike to evaluate.
Last year’s Area 51 drilling returned some impressive assays, including hole TKB43 with 17m @ 3.2g/t Au from 77m and 45m @ 0.92g/t Au from 97m, so are excited to be following this up as we target growth at Tunkillia.”
The company also notes drilling at Area 51 follows on from recent extensional RC drilling at the 223 deposit, where 90% of historical drilling informing the current 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) was completed at a gold price of US$800/oz.
However, depth extensions and regional targets are reported to have been poorly tested. Barton also reports assays for recently completed diamond drilling (DD) are expected to be received in February – April this year.
Barton Gold is an ASX-listed Australian gold exploration company that is focused on exploration within 2 large-scale mineral systems at its Tarcoola and Tunkillia Projects, which demonstrate ‘significant’ new upside opportunities in historically under-invested areas.
The company’s Tunkillia project is situated about 70km south-southeast of its neighbouring Tarcoola Project in South Australia and comprises a tenement package of 1,360km-square, with Barton owning a 100% interest in all associated tenements.
The project currently has a 965,000oz Au JORC 2012 MRE of 26.1 million tonnes (Mt) @ 1.15g/t Au within its 223 deposit, as well as district-scale structures with advanced satellite targets.
Images: Barton Gold Holdings Ltd
