Results from Tombola’s five-hole drill program at the Little Duke project are starting to come in and it has much to be happy about if the first hole is any clue into what is to come.

Hole LD22DD0001 intersected four zones of significant gold-copper intercepts:

  • 27m grading 1.44 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 0.6% copper from a down-hole depth of 104m including 15m at 2.25g/t gold and 0.71% copper;
  • 5m at 1g/t gold and 0.86% copper from 154m;
  • 18m at 0.85g/t gold and 0.49% copper from 199m; and
  • 9m at 1.03g/t gold and 0.21% copper from 241m.

Little Duke is interpreted to host an iron sulphide-rich copper-gold system similar to other deposits in the broader Cloncurry area.

Further drilling is already underway by Tombola Gold (ASX:TBA) to test and evaluate the size and extent of the higher grade Little Duke mineralised zones.

Previous drilling in 2019 had also intersected copper-gold mineralisation with LD19RD025 returning 68m at 1.44g/t gold and 0.53% copper from surface while LD19RC023 hit 40m at 2.21g/t gold and 0.4% copper. These two holes are located 40m and 20m northeast of LD22DD0001 respectively.

The news also comes as the company prepares to start production from its flagship Mt Freda Gold Mine in Cloncurry during the fourth-quarter of the 2022 calendar year, with expansion plans boosted by its move to acquire the nearby Lorena mine and processing facility.

“We are extremely excited about the results from the first drillhole in a step out drilling program at Little Duke, that indicate we are in a strongly mineralised copper and gold system, with potential to significantly increase the mineralised zone,” managing director Byron Miles said.

“The zone of mineralisation now extends for 100m along strike, and it is pleasing to see that the results from LD22DD001 are in-line with the positive results from the 2019 drilling program giving us every confidence that the project can progress into a technical study stage, and involve Little Duke into the longer term mine development plan, as Tombola aims to become a meaningful Australian gold producer.

“We are confident that with further drilling at Little Duke, we can build on the success of the first hole in the program and continue to deliver additional high-grade copper and gold hits.”

Upcoming activity

Besides the ongoing drilling, the company will carry out a geophysical induced polarisation survey over the broader area at the end of July to assist in drill hole targeting.

This will extend north and south of Little Duke, covering an area about 4km north-south and 1.2km east-west.

Petrography studies are also underway with results expected in early August 2022.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Tombola Gold, 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.