Wildcat Resources (ASX:WC8) has confirmed a large gold system with ‘significant’ gold mineralisation occurring beyond the Hobbs Pipe Gold deposit within its Mt Adrah Gold Project in New South Wales.
The company reports results from 16 reverse circulation (RC) holes completed across 3,658m in April 2023 have confirmed gold mineralisation and the potential for intrusion-related gold system (IRGS) targets associated with the 770,000-ounce Hobbs Pipe Gold deposit.
The best intercepts recorded in this program include hole WCRC003 with 103m @ 0.4g/t Au from surface and WCRC001 with 51m @ 0.34g/t Au from 95m.
Commenting on the results, Wildcat Resources Managing Director Samuel Ekins says: “The assay results demonstrate that there is a lot of gold in the greater Hobbs Pipe mineral system, including the country rocks, supporting our exploration model for multiple gold-bearing intrusions.
“The assay results demonstrate that there is a lot of gold in the greater Hobbs Pipe mineral system”
The extensive mineralised alteration halo surrounding the monzodiorite-hosted gold deposit at Hobbs Pipe has had limited drilling, and 15 of the 16 holes we drilled returned gold mineralisation. The recent drilling has identified new areas of mineralised monzodiorite in addition to broad zones of mineralisation within the alteration halo.”
Other results returned in the program include WCRC006 with 112m @ 0.20g/t Au from 8m; and WCRC004 with 220m @ 0.25g/t Au from surface.
Monzodiorite was intersected in 8 of the 16 holes completed in the RC drilling program. Wildcat says 2 zones to the southeast of Hobbs Pipe contain swarms of monzodiorite dykes with localised breccias and variably skarn-altered country rock. The company believes these may be sourced from a larger intrusive body or bodies at depth.
The company says thick zones of mineralisation in WCRC001, WCRC005, WCRC012 appear to occur peripheral to a magnetic anomaly with a low amplitude to Hobbs Pipe. The magnetic anomaly was confirmed, with improved resolution, by a drone magnetic survey flown in April 2023.
The alteration is interpreted to be related to a proximal mineralised intrusion that is coincident with the magnetic low and within the broader geochemical anomaly.
The new geochemical data from the RC drilling will be used to vector towards the potential source intrusion. Another pipe target is located 100m east of this potential intrusion.
Wildcat reports other broad zones of mineralised alterations, such as WCRC003 and WCRC004, appear to be a part of an ‘extensive’ mineralised alteration halo surrounding Hobbs Pipe and other intrusive targets.
The company reports it will be evaluating the gold and multi-element geochemical assay data and incorporating it into the geological model for the broader Hobbs Pipe area. It will also interpret vectors to help identify priority targets for planning the next phase of drilling, complete a high-resolution gravity survey, and finalise plans for the next phase of exploration and drilling.
Wildcat is a Perth-based explorer with a portfolio of lithium and gold projects across New South Wales and Western Australia. These assets include the Mt Adrah Gold, Bolt Cutter Gold and Lithium, and the Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum projects. The Mt Adrah Gold Project covers a ‘highly prospective’ 520km-square in the Lachlan Orogen region of New South Wales.
Write to Harry Mulholland at Mining.com.au
Images: Wildcat Resources Ltd
