Asra Minerals’ near-surface gold hits extend mineralisation at the Eclipse and Challenge prospects

• Asra Minerals drilling returns near-surface gold hits at the Eclipse and Challenge prospects
• Results confirm the continuity of gold mineralised systems at both prospects
• Assays to underpin maiden resource for Eclipse, more drilling planned 

Special Report: The intersection of near-surface mineralisation at Asra Minerals’ Leonora South project near Kookynie, WA, has confirmed and extended the gold systems at the Eclipse and Challenge prospects.

Drilling has confirmed multiple significant, shallow gold zones that indicate the presence of a robust mineralised system at Eclipse.

Notable assays include 15m grading 10.21g/t gold from a down-hole depth of 12m (NIC017), 9m at 3.22g/t gold from 54m (NIC033) and 6m at 3.54g/t gold from 57m (NIC019).

These follow on from the assay of 14m at 7.49g/t gold from 12m, returned from the initial hole NIC017.

The results look to be just the start for Asra Minerals (ASX:ASR) as the Eclipse system is unconstrained along strike and at depth, paving the way for further drilling to unlock more mineralisation.

Adding interest, drilling also intersected near-surface mineralisation at Challenge with stand-out assays such as 6m at 3.56g/t gold from 36m (NIC044) and 6m at 3.12g/t gold from 33m (NIC040).

Both prospects are near the historical Orion and Sapphire gold mines that collectively host a resource of 48,000oz at an average grade of 2.2g/t gold.

Encouraging results

Managing director Paul Stephen said the latest assays from the 40-hole reverse circulation drill program were “extremely encouraging” as they demonstrated the continuity of mineralisation at both Eclipse and Challenge.

“Crucially, they show that our initial hit was not an isolated occurrence, but part of a potentially larger mineralised system that we are now beginning to unlock,” he added. 

“The system at Eclipse remains open in all directions and we see a clear and immediate opportunity to grow or resource base.

“These results are another important step in validating our geological model at Leonora South and providing confidence in our systematic exploration strategy.”

ASR, which is changing its name to GoldArc, had drilled 23 holes totalling 2070m at Eclipse and 17 holes for 1362m at Challenge to confirm historical data and test for extensions to known mineralisation.

The program successfully intersected the targeted mafic lithologies, interpreted as the Niagara Layered Complex.

Gold mineralisation across both prospects is consistently associated with quartz veining hosted within a deep weathering profile – a geological setting characteristic of major gold deposits within the region.

The consistency of high-grade intercepts, particularly at Eclipse, confirms a robust, structurally controlled gold system.

Listen: Paul Stephen chats with Barry FitzGerald

In a previous instalment of the Explorers Podcast, Barry FitzGerald spoke with Paul Stephen, providing an update on the company’s Leonora gold push.

Next steps

Assay data will now be used to develop a comprehensive geological model that will underpin a maiden resource estimate for the Eclipse prospect.

Planning is also underway for follow-up drilling to test for extensions of the high-grade mineralisation along strike and at depth at Eclipse, and infill key sections to increase confidence ahead of resource estimates.

Additionally, assays from recent aircore drilling at the Cosmopolitan and Altona South prospects are expected by the end of September.

ASR is also finalising a major soil survey at the Mt Stirling area to generate new targets for Mt Stirling-style mineralisation and is planning drill programs at the Whistler prospect west of Carnevale’s new gold discovery at Swiftsure South, as well as at Jessop Creek.

“Our team are already finalising drill targets across the Leonora South and North project areas, with the goal of maintaining this level of exploration output,” Stephen noted.

“This success underpins a period of increased activity for the company as we work to grow our existing resource base and uncover the potential of our entire Leonora landholding.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Asra 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.