Prodigy Gold (ASX:PRX) reports PhotonAssay analysis has validated fire assay results from its 2025 drilling programs at the Tanami North Project in the Northern Territory.
The company analysed 27 select ‘high-grade’ reverse circulation samples from 12 drill holes at the Hyperion and Tregony deposits.
Fire assay results averaged 11.56 grams per tonne gold (Au) compared with 11.57g/t Au for PhotonAssay, representing a difference of approximately 0.1% across the combined grade totals.
The correlation demonstrates a coefficient of determination (R2) of approximately 98.8% between the two analytical methods.
Managing Director Mark Edwards says the ‘strong’ comparison provides “an additional level of trust” in ‘higher-grade’ results from the 2025 drilling program.
“PhotonAssay uses a substantially larger sample mass than conventional fire assay and is, therefore, a useful QAQC [quality assurance and quality control] tool, particularly where higher-grade or potentially coarse-gold mineralisation is present,” Edwards notes.
At Tregony, three consecutive samples from drill hole TGRC25007 from 59m to 62m returned an average grade of 29.4g/t Au by fire assay and 28.9g/t Au by PhotonAssay. The highest individual result was 40.1g/t Au by fire assay and 41.6g/t Au by PhotonAssay.
Prodigy notes that original fire assay grades ranged from 5g/t Au to 40.1g/t Au.
At the Suess lodes, sample PG062395 from drill hole SURC25005 notably returned identical results of 16.7g/t Au for both methods. Meanwhile, sample PG061613 at Hyperion returned 13.5g/t Au by fire assay and 13.1g/t Au by PhotonAssay.
PhotonAssay analyses approximately 500 grams compared with 40–50 grams for fire assay, providing a better assessment of gold distribution in ‘higher-grade’ zones or where coarse gold is present.
Edwards says fire assay will remain the company’s primary analytical method to maintain consistency with the drill database and mineral resource estimate process. PhotonAssays will continue to be a selective QAQC tool.
Prodigy holds over 1 million ounces of mineral resources across its Tanami North and Twin Bonanza projects, with Tanami North containing 534,000 ounces across Tregony and Hyperion.
Over the coming years, the company intends to focus on mine development and gold exploration in the Tanami region, completing studies on Tanami North and Twin Bonanza.
Prodigy Gold is a greenfields and brownfields explorer focused on targeting and developing gold resources in the Tanami region of the NT.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Prodigy Gold
