Mt Malcolm Mines (ASX:M2M) is moving onto bulk sampling at its Golden Crown prospect in Western Australia’s eastern goldfields following completion of a grade control drilling program.
The company has started an 8,000-tonne bulk sampling program targeting high-grade ore within a 50m-long and 15m-wide mineralised corridor identified in earlier drilling.
An 18-hole, 522m reverse circulation drilling program was completed to support the bulk sampling program.
Two of the holes were drilled to test the northern extensions of the eastern lode at Golden Crown. Results are expected in two weeks.
Mt Malcolm is also undertaking a 500-tonne pilot processing study on seven composite samples, ranging in average grade from 2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold to over 41g/t, from reverse circulation drilling in February.
Results from this testwork are expected within a week.
Managing Director Trevor Dixon says the bulk sampling program and processing study aim to establish the feasibility of wet gravity processing at a nearby third-party plant and assess the mineability of the shallow, high-grade ore at the Golden Crown prospect.
Grade control drilling was completed from 18m to 24m and intersected potentially mineralised quartz veins on both the centre line and the eastern line.
The thickness of the veins ranged between 1m and up to 12m.
The bulk sampling program is aimed at verifying the gold grade and continuity at Golden Crown. It involves using a 30-tonne excavator or equivalent machine with a 7m to 8m digging reach.
Golden Crown has become a key target for Mt Malcolm for the definition of a maiden resource.
Historically, Golden Crown produced 1,720 ounces of gold between 1899 and 1904.
Mt Malcolm says the prospect features three shallow lodes that remain open along the down plunge, with deeper mineralisation still unexplored.
Golden Crown forms part of the company’s flagship Malcolm Gold Project that comprises nine major prospect areas across 154 tenements spanning 274km2.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Mt Malcolm Mines
