High grade rock chips prime Saturn’s West Wyalong for gold drilling

Special Report: The historical West Wyalong project in NSW is shaping up to be another exciting target for Saturn after rock chip sampling returned high grade results.

Rock chips from mullock dumps over a 200m strike length on the ‘Mouse Trap Line’ at West Wyalong North returned results of up to 81.3 grams per tonne (g/t) gold at the Louisa working and 8.59g/t at Welcome Stranger.

Additionally, rock chip results have also clustered around historical aircore drilling intersections such as 6m at 1.67g/t gold from surface and 2m at 2.54g/t gold from 56m that have not been followed up.

Saturn Metals (ASX:STN) added that field reconnaissance at the project within the highly prospective Lachlan Fold Belt has identified several historical workings and vein sets that appear to not have been overly exploited.

Mapped quartz veins and old workings in the area have also been found to extend up to 1km north of previous drilling or modern exploration, which could open up more areas for exploration.

“The consistent nature of these significant rock chip results, when combined with the cluster of promising aircore intersections and a strong geological setting, provide for another exciting target at West Wyalong,” managing director Ian Bamborough said.

“We are currently obtaining standard approvals and making plans for a start on drilling at West Wyalong in early 2021.”

saturn metals rock chip sampling west wyalong north gold — New rock chip results, historic workings, mineralised vein trends and historic significant AC drill results on the Mouse Trap Line at West Wyalong North. Pic: Supplied

Historical gold potential

Saturn has an option to earn an 85 per cent joint venture interest in the West Wyalong project, where historical mining undertaken between 1894 and 1915 produced around 439,000 ounces of gold at 36g/t.

As part of its recent reconnaissance activities, the company took 20 rock chips from mullock dumps at several old workings to the north of West Wyalong, most of which returned gold mineralisation.

The company added that a significant mineralised footprint is highlighted by the cluster of under-exploited historic mine diggings, the new rock chip results and several significant historical aircore drill results.

Saturn plans to carry out follow-up infill and extensional aircore drilling and is also reviewing previously collected induced polarisation survey data to help with targeting.

This article was developed in collaboration with Saturn Metals, 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.