Sunshine Metals (ASX:SHN) has identified two new gold targets following an airborne magnetic and radiometric survey at its Sybil Low-Sulphidation Epithermal Gold Project in northeast Queensland.
Ground truthing at the Pancho and Cisco targets returned rock-chip results of up to 21.6 grams per tonne gold (Au) and 6.04g/t Au, respectively.
Additional samples from Cisco returned 1.97g/t Au and 1.7g/t Au.
The targets lie south of Francis Creek East and were identified as areas of potassium depletion in the radiometric data. Sunshine says similar responses coincide with outcropping epithermal quartz veins at the Francis Creek and Francis Creek East prospects.
The company completed the first detailed airborne survey across Sybil, covering 2,079 line-kilometres at a terrain clearance of 35m.
Magnetic data mapped northwest-southeast faults parallel to the broader Sybil Graben, as well as northeast-southwest structures dissecting the project’s stratigraphy.
Sunshine also identified six reverse polarity intrusive bodies, including a buried intrusion at Solitary Hill. The company interprets the intrusions as being the same age as the district’s epithermal mineralisation, although their relationship with the mineralisation remains under investigation.
Managing Director Dr Damien Keys says the radiometric data helped the company locate and sample the new vein networks.
“Of most significance, however, is the identification of the gold bearing veins in the radiometric data. This has led Sunshine geologists to map and sample vein networks at the Cisco and Pancho prospects, resulting in the identification of further high-grade targets,” Keys says.
Sunshine plans to extend its interpretation and field validation across the broader survey area.
The company says a 44-hole reverse circulation drilling program totalling 3,083m is scheduled to begin on 24 July. The program will test extensions at Francis Creek and include 20 maiden holes totalling 1,070m at Francis Creek East and eight holes for 375m at Blue Range.
Previous drilling at Francis Creek returned 4.4m @ 57.51g/t Au from 23.6m, while surface sampling at Francis Creek East and Blue Range returned up to 23.4g/t Au and 20.4g/t Au, respectively.
Sunshine Metals is a discovery and development mining company focused on gold and copper projects in Queensland.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Sunshine Metals
