Barton Gold (ASX:BGD) reports final assays from phase-two drilling at its Tunkillia Gold Project in South Australia have returned multiple ‘high-grade’ intersections throughout the Starter Pits.
The company completed 57,653m across 520 reverse circulation (RC) and diamond holes during phase-one and phase-two upgrade drilling. Phase two comprised 38,760m across 311 holes.
‘Best’ results from the final assays include 26m @ 2.79 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 126m, including 1m @ 53.5g/t Au from 129m, in hole TKB0724. Hole TKB0745 returned 53m @ 2.51g/t Au from 60m.
Other intersections include 21m @ 4.13g/t Au from 61m in TKB0742, including 2m @ 29.9g/t Au from 79m, and 14m @ 3.8g/t Au from 67m in TKB0748.
“The phase-two infill assays support the highest-grade results of phase-one drilling and the potential for new, shallower zones of high-grade mineralisation within the existing Starter Pits,” Managing Director Alexander Scanlon says.
The drilling targeted the highest-value S1 and S2 pits, which are modelled to produce about $1.8 billion in operating profit during the first 2.5 years of operation at current gold and silver prices.
Shallow ‘high-grade’ assays encountered on the weathered margins of a large mafic dyke support the case for additional early, high-value mineralisation and reinforce a central ‘high-grade’ zone in the Starter Pits.
Barton is remodelling all Tunkillia mineralisation with the benefit of nearly 58,000m of additional drilling since last year.
A mineral resource estimate update for gold is pending, with a silver resource update and Prefeasibility Study (PFS) planned for Q1 2027.
The company is targeting publication of the PFS in Q1 2027 to support a mining lease application thereafter.
Barton Gold is an Australian gold developer advancing a portfolio of projects across South Australia’s Gawler Craton.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Barton Gold
