Astral hits more wide, high-grade gold at Kamperman

Results for the final 11 holes at Astral’s Kamperman deposit include a standout intersection of 33m at 3.75g/t gold from 58m
Astral believes the results could help grow the resource
RC rig now relocated to Mandilla gold project for infill at Iris

Special report: Reverse circulation drilling at Astral’s Kamperman deposit, part of the Feysville gold project near Kalgoorlie, has delivered encouraging results that bode well for further resource growth.

A program of infill and extensional reverse circulation drilling was designed to extend the strike length of known mineralisation by focusing on north and south step-out holes in the vicinity of a north-east trending fault.

The final 11 holes for 1254m were drilled in the more contiguous high-grade southern zone of Kamperman by Astral Resources (ASX:AAR), encompassing infill, updip and downdip drill tests.

Two RC holes were also drilled to the south of the current extent of known gold mineralisation to either extend or close off this zone.

Best results include:

33m at 3.75g/t gold from 58m, including 3m at 14.8g/t gold from 75m
10m at 1.63g/t gold from 131m and 22m at 5.21g/t gold from 149m, including 2m at 30.9g/t gold from 164m and 2m at 12.2g/t gold from 168m; and
22m at 4.44g/t gold from 105m, including 2m at 25.9g/t gold from 121m.

The hits demonstrate the potential to add yet more high-grade ounces at Feysville, 14km south of the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, which saw its resource boosted this month to 5Mt at 1.2g/t for 196,000oz.

The addition of almost 2Mt increased the group’s total resources to 1.5Moz, with Astral’s Mandilla project hosting 37Mt at 1.1g/t gold for 1.27Moz of contained gold.

A scoping study last year highlighted a standalone project for Mandilla comprising three open-pit mines feeding a 2.5Mtpa processing facility, producing 80 to 100koz per year at a gold price of just A$2750/oz.

Spot prices are now close to $1500 higher.

The study also didn’t include the higher grade Feysville ore, which will contribute to the upcoming Mandilla pre-feasibility study, putting the company on track to develop a sustainable and profitable gold business in the Kalgoorlie region.

Results adds confidence to resource upside

“The in-fill drill line (FRC387, FRC388 and FRC389) testing the high-grade southern zone at Kamperman returned excellent results,” AAR managing director Marc Ducler said.

“These three in-fill holes averaged a gold accumulation of 112 gram-metres through this high-grade southern zone.

“This is clearly a very successful in-fill test and bodes well for the potential to upgrade the MRE in this area.

“A potential high-grade gold zone was also tested with hole FRC385, returning a spectacular intercept of 6 metres at 12.8g/t Au from 76 metres including 1 metre at 63.4g/t Au from 77 metres.

“This further successful test of an interpreted high-grade shoot adds confidence as to the continuity of this zone and our ability to interpret controls and presents as further upside to the current Kamperman MRE.”

Plans to secure second diamond drill rig at Mandilla

The RC rig has now moved to the Mandilla project and is progressing with in-fill and extensional programs at the Iris and Eos deposits respectively.

Once complete, the rig will return to Kamperman to complete a 15-hole (2110m) infill program.

Meanwhile, diamond drilling of four infill holes at Theia is continuing.

AAR says plans are underway to secure a second diamond drill rig and increase the rate of progress of both the current four-hole infill program at Theia and the geotechnical program required to inform the open pit parameters for the Hestia and Eos open pits in the Mandilla PFS.

A resource update at Theia is expected in the March quarter of 2025.

This article was developed in collaboration with Astral Resources, 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.