West Australian gold explorer Black Cat Syndicate (ASX:BC8) has reported gold hits up to 80.60g/t Au from underground drilling at the Paulsens Gold Operation in Western Australia.
Drilling at Paulsens began in November 2022, and is targeting readily accessible, near-mine growth opportunities including the Gabbro Veins.
These veins are mineralised over a plunge length of over 1km and are located adjacent to, and up to 200m from the existing decline. Black Cat also notes the Gabbro Veins can form as swarms over areas up to 4m wide.
Significant results returned from 38 drill holes include 22PGRD001 with 3.42m @ 16.21g/t Au from 69.70m including 0.22m @ 80.60g/t Au from 72.90m; 22PGRD002 with 0.55m @ 67.20g/t Au from 47.63m including 0.33m @ 21.70g/t Au from 54.42m, and 0.51m @ 29.86g/t Au from 69.15m.
Commenting on the results, Black Cat Syndicate Managing Director Gareth Solly said: “The latest results from the Gabbro Veins continue to highlight their significant future mining potential and further validate Black Cat’s new geology model. The Gabbro Veins are located adjacent to infrastructure and represent a potential new start-up mining area at Paulsens.
“The latest results from the Gabbro Veins continue to highlight their significant future mining potential”
With a second rig commencing this month our drilling activities will increase and expedite additional discovery and resource growth. Our recent placement of $17 million will not only help us to fast-track our drilling but will support activities required to inform a decision to restart production at Paulsens, which is targeted for mid-2023.”
Black Cat reports that the majority of historic mining at the project occurred within the Main Lode. The footwall Gabbro Veins are believed to present a ‘significantly’ new mining opportunity at Paulsens.
Drilling to date has targeted the Gabbro Veins in the lower part of the mine, adjacent to the decline. The underground drill rig has now moved to the upper part of the decline and is targeting Gabbro Veins and other near-mine targets.
Black Cat notes all results to date are based on fire assays, and a photon assay trial is underway. A similar trial at Coyote illustrated that fire assay results may be under-reporting gold grades for coarse-gold, diamond core samples.
An upgrade to the underground resource is expected to be completed this month. This upgrade will include a ‘significant’ reinterpretation of the current resource based on the new geological model. Additional resource upgrades will be ongoing through 2023.
Engineering and mining studies are also underway to support a potential restart decision in mid-2023.
The 450,000 tonnes per annum processing plant is currently on care and maintenance, and remains in good condition.
