Vancouver-based gold explorer Lion One Metals (ASX:LLO) has drilled up to 750 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from Zone 5 at its Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji.
The company reports other multiple “bonanza” grade intercepts ranging from 120.8g/t to 336.39g/t gold from infill and grade control drilling.
The headline intercept measured 0.3m @ 750.05g/t from 84.3m. This was a section of a broader 3.3m @ 97.46g/t from 82.8m which also included 0.9m @ 336.39g/t from 84m.
The new intercepts were drilled near the underground development in the near-surface part of the mine.
Lion One, which is also listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V:LIO), is now establishing a sub-level to mine the high-grade area over the coming months.
The latest round of drilling was focused on the up-dip, down-dip, and southern areas of the UR2 and URW3 lodes, areas that are targeted for mining within the next 12 months.
The goal of the campaign is to enhance the mine model and inform stope design ahead of mining in the target areas.
Zone 5 includes the principal north-south oriented lodes (UR1 to UR3), the principal northeast-southwest oriented lodes (UR4 to UR8), and several of the western lodes (URW2, URW2A, URW3).
Lion One says these lodes are steeply dipping structures that converge at about 500m depth to form Zone 500, which is the highest-grade part of the deposit and is interpreted to be the feeder zone at Tuvatu.
The system remains open at depth, with the deepest high-grade intersections occurring below 1km deep.
The UR2 lode currently extends for 620m, while the URW3 lode has so far been defined over 330m of strike.
Lion One says both remain open along strike and at depth.
Last week, Lion One started mechanised production at Tuvatu and reported an increase in mill operations from 300 tonnes per day to 400 tonnes per day.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Lion One Metals
