Tulla Resources (ASX:TUL) and joint venture (JV) partner Pantoro (ASX:PNR) have reported gold grades of up to 35.8g/t Au following a phase two drilling program at the Mainfield South area, as part of their jointly held Central Norseman Gold Project in WA.
The results have been returned from drillholes testing multiple known and newly defined structural targets within the southern Mainfield area, with key intercepts including, 5.0m at 9.82g/t Au, including 1.0m at 35.8g/t Au from 204m and 1.0m at 22.7g/t Au from 108m.
The recent phase two drilling program was conducted to target the Mainfield South area, including ore blocks on the Mararoa Reef known as Butterfly South, the cross linking Royal Standard reef and the previously untested North West structures.
Speaking on the results, Tulla Resources Executive Director, Mark Maloney said: “While production has now recommenced at Norseman, we continue the phase two drilling program to seek additional ‘high-grade’ ore reserves to extend the life of mine.
“We continue the phase two drilling program to seek additional ‘high-grade’ ore reserves to extend the life of mine”
The Mainfield has historically been a source of high grade ore with significant future potential.”
Pantoro Managing Director, Paul Cmrlec, said Pantoro continues to grow the mine’s ore reserve.
“With operation at Norseman now underway, Pantoro has continued with its strategy of identifying additional ore to continue to grow the mines ore reserve.
“With operation at norseman now underway, pantoro has continued with its strategy of identifying additional ore to continue to grow the mines ore reserve”
Additional ‘high-grade’ ore sources [are] of particular interest with a view to increasing mill head grade, and therefore gold production from the processing facility as new mines are able to be developed.
The current focus at the southern end of the Mainfield fits the bill and has the advantage of relatively easy access via the existing Viking Decline, which was developed at a suitable size for current underground mining fleet requirements.”
Pantoro also notes that results to date from Butterfly South have confirmed the nature of the ore where historically CNGC reported drilling may intersect ‘high-grade’ mineralisation in about 30% of the drillholes, to identify a potential zone of economic mining blocks.
Initial drilling at the southern end of the Butterfly/Ajax area has also identified two steep trending reefs that are sub-parallel to the O2 reef at the OK Mine, which is situated a further 1,100m to the southwest.
In addition, all of the targeted ore blocks are capable of access from the existing Viking Decline, which is suitably sized for modern underground mining equipment.
The Central Norseman Gold project is located about 200km south of the township of Kalgoorlie, near the township of Norseman in WA’s Eastern Goldfields Province and represents a JV operation between ASX-listed companies Tulla Resources and Pantoro, with both companies owning an equal 50% interest in the tenement.
The project comprises 155 near continuous mining tenements, including those currently pending, over about 70km of strike across a total land holding of 750km-square and has produced in excess of 5.5Moz of gold since commencement of exploration in 1935.
Further follow-up reverse circulation (RC) drilling with limited diamond core tails is ongoing to define the extents of mineralisation within the Northwest structures.
Images: iStock
