Dacian Gold Limited (ASX: DCN) has announced that high-grade results including 5m @ 16.8g/t Au from 48m were reported from an infill drilling program along strike to the south of the Mt Marven open pit, within the company’s Mt Morgans Gold Operation (MMGO) near Laverton in Western Australia.
The company said that the results confirm the continuity of the high-grade mineralisation of the Mt Marven system 800m along strike to the south from the current Mineral Resource. DCN said that the mineralisation remains open down dip and to the south.
Other key intercepts included 15m @ 1.7g/t Au from 0m; 4m @ 5.3g/t Au from 51m; 6m @ 2.0g/t Au from 117m; and 6m @ 1.9g/t Au from 79m.
Dacian said that mineral Resource estimation activities are underway with mining studies to follow.
Drilling at Mt Marven open pit
The Mt Marven open pit is situated 3km from the Mt Morgans processing plant. The company had undertaken a first pass RC drilling program in the September quarter of FY2021 to the south of the Mt Marven open pit to test for strike extension to the known mineralisation.
The results from the initial program had delineated a strike extension 800m beyond the current open pit. The company had then commenced a subsequent drilling campaign to confirm the continuity of this mineralisation to a depth of 120m, with a total of 47 infill RC holes for 5,223m completed to approximately a 40m x 40m drill spacing.
DCN said that this drilling confirms the strong mineralised trend coincident with the strike of the Mt Marven Shear Zone (MMSZ) and demonstrates that it links with the active Mt Marven open pit.
High-grade drill results
Dacian said that the results from the infill Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling have confirmed high-grade continuity at Mt Marven South.
Standout intercepts included 5m @ 16.8g/t Au from 48m in 21MVRC0079; 15m @ 1.7g/t Au from 0m in 20MVRC0061; 4m @ 5.3g/t Au from 51m in 21MVRC0076; 3m @ 6.9g/t Au from 82m in 20MVRC0068; 6m @ 2.9g/t Au from 119m in 20MVRC0070; 5m @ 3.2g/t Au from 91m in 20MVRC0060; 12m @ 1.2g/t Au from 10m in 20MVRC0058; 8m @ 1.7g/t Au from 21m in 20MVRC0067; 5m @ 2.6g/t Au from 103m in 21MVRC0095; 3m @ 4.2g/t Au from 114m in 21MVRC0078; 6m @ 2.0g/t Au from 117m in 20MVRC0056; and 6m @ 1.9g/t Au from 79m in 20MVRC0062.
DCN reported that the results demonstrate strong continuity of mineralisation between drillholes at a closer drill spacing, both along strike and down dip. Dacian said that the orientation of the mineralisation is interpreted to correlate with, and link to, the ore lodes mined in the Mt Marven open pit. The company said that the mineralisation is associated with increased sulphidation in sheared mafic rocks both in the weathered and fresh profile. The tenor of grade is increased near the contacts of intrusive units and remains open at depth and along strike.
What’s next?
DCN said that it plans to immediately update the Mineral Resource estimate as well as commence infill resource definition drilling to 20m x 20m of the existing high-grade mineralisation; test for deeper extensions to the mineralised system in the south; and investigate potential for strike extension to the north of Mt Marven open pit.
Image Source: Dacian Gold Limited