Argent Minerals’ IP data and high-grade rock chips define gold drilling targets at Trunkey Creek

Argent Minerals’ rock chip sampling in the centre of Trunkey Creek has returned up to 63.1g/t gold
Reinterpreted IP and new detailed ground IP delineates high resistivity areas coincident with historical workings
Work program defines targets for drill testing

Special Report: Argent Minerals has identified new drill target zones at its Trunkey Creek project in NSW after rock chip sampling of quartz veins returned high-grade assays of up to 63.1g/t gold.

Other notable results from sampling within the central portion of the project include 55.8g/t and 35.7g/t gold.

The rock chip sampling program, which collected 160 samples within various lithological units, quartz veins and mined out mullock dumps, was carried out as part of a reconnaissance program that sought to verify the accuracy of historical gold workings across a 2km strike zone along geological mapping of the main quartz reef exposure.

Meanwhile, Argent Minerals’ (ASX:ARD) reinterpretation of the historical induced polarisation traverse over Trunkey Creek has identified significant chargeable and resistive anomalies.

Sub-parallel main quartz reefs have been mapped 30m to 50m apart over a 2km strike length with the distribution of shafts along the reef indicating that two main centres of mineralisation are present.

Ground IP surveying has also delineated high resistivity zones within a 3.8 km length by 500m wide area with anomalies coinciding with historical gold workings.

These resistive trends may represent silica rich veins that are prospective for gold mineralisation, which are reportedly associated with sulphides in the quartz veins.

Six high priority IP targets with good correlation to historical workings have been delineated for drill testing.

Ferruginous rusty quartz vein yielding 63.1g/t gold rock chip. Pic: Argent Minerals

“We are extremely pleased to have received further high-grade geochemical results, highlighting significant gold mineralisation potential at Trunkey Creek,” managing director Pedro Kastellorizos said.

“These gold rock chip assays, returning grades up to 63.1g/t Au, in conjunction with locating historical mine workings, demonstrate the project’s exploration upside.

“The detailed ground IP interpretation has clearly defined extensive high resistivity zones (potential quartz veins) and chargeability zones (potential sulphides) which have excellent potential for hosting gold mineralisation.

“These zones have been defined as “stand up” targets and will be systematically tested by drilling.”

Historical gold producer

Trunkey Creek, which is just 9km from the company’s Kempfield silver deposit, has seen some 2900oz of gold extracted by prospectors with exploration and excavation dating back to the gold rush days of the early 1850s.

While it was also held by CRA (now Rio Tinto) and Plutonic (now part of Barrick), only limited work has been carried out since most of the easy gold was produced.

These big players might just have missed out on the real prize as rock chipping by ARD has returned gold assays indicating that there’s more to be found.

And there’s plenty of room for the company to root around given that the Trunkey Creek mineral field extends for ~5.5km of strike with widths around 250m and widening to 500m in some areas.

Hard rock workings predominantly strike north and are hosted in bedding and/or cleavage parallel structures.

This article was developed in collaboration with Argent Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.