Orbit Resources (ASX:OBT) has commenced drilling at its Lewis Ponds Gold‑Silver Project in New South Wales to advance resource expansion and exploration opportunities.
The company has mobilised a track‑mounted diamond drill rig to test priority electromagnetic (EM) conductors and complete resource infill drilling at the 100%‑owned project, located 15km east of Orange.
Drilling targets include the TLPD‑04 offhole EM conductor in the footwall of the Lewis Ponds deposit and Tom’s Lode in the far south of the mineral resource estimate (MRE). Samples will support future metallurgical test work and increase resource confidence levels.
Recent downhole EM results from hole GLPRCDD003 confirm that the Cousin Jack discovery is strongly conductive, with readings up to 1,500 Siemens. Managing Director Jeneta Owens says the results validate the exploration model for the 1.6km‑long target corridor.
“This latest round of drilling has delivered two highly encouraging outcomes that reinforce both the growth and exploration potential of Lewis Ponds,” Owens notes.
“Firstly, a strong downhole electromagnetic response of up to 1,500 Siemens confirms that the mineralisation intersected at the new Cousin Jack discovery is highly conductive and validates our exploration model.”
The Cousin Jack discovery comprises multiple zinc‑copper‑silver‑lead‑gold sulphide domains located southeast of the Lewis Ponds deposit. Earlier this year, five combination reverse circulation and diamond holes totalling 1,663.2m defined the discovery.
Key results include hole GLPRCDD001, which intersected the Quarry Lode, returning 27m @ 0.97 grams per tonne gold equivalent (AuEq) from 83m, including 10m @ 1.44g/t AuEq from 89m. The Quarry Lode sits outside the current MRE and proposed open pit from the 2026 Scoping Study.
“The intersection of meaningful gold and base metal mineralisation within the Quarry Lode is particularly important given its location outside the current mineral resource estimate and proposed open pit,” Owens adds.
The Cousin Jack discovery hole GLPRCDD003 returned two major sulphide domains: an upper domain of 79m @ 1.3% zinc equivalent (ZnEq) from 311m and a lower domain of 104m @ 1.3% ZnEq from 527m.
Orbit plans to screen the 1.6km IP (induced polarisation) trend with a ground EM survey in the December quarter and has engaged a drone magnetic contractor for a survey scheduled in September.
The Lewis Ponds deposit hosts a JORC 2012 resource of 17.52 million tonnes at 1.12g/t gold, 53.34g/t silver, 2.06% zinc, 1.10% lead, and 0.14% copper, equating to 1.7 million ounces AuEq.
Orbit Resources, formerly Godolphin Resources, is an Australian explorer advancing a portfolio of precious and base metals projects across the Lachlan Fold Belt, anchored by the Lewis Ponds Project.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Orbit Resources
