Astral Resources has delivered more thick, high-grade infill gold intersections at the proposed Stage 1 open pit at Theia, strengthening confidence in early mining at its Mandilla gold project.

Assays from the latest batch of 41 reverse circulation holes totalling 4456m returned a weighted average grade of 1.54g/t gold, validating both the geological and resource models for Theia.

Best results are:

7m grading 10.4g/t Au from a down-hole depth of 133m including 1m at 53g/t Au from 133m (AMRC446)

13m at 5g/t Au from 36m including 1m at 36.8g/t Au from 41m and 1m at 19g/t Au from 46m (AMRC431); and 4m at 13.5g/t Au from 106m including 1m at 45.7g/t Au from 107m (AMRC410).

Further support came from AMRCD374, an RC hole with a diamond tail drilled as part of the Theia Deeps program, which intersected multiple high-grade gold zones within the proposed Stage 1 open pit.

Notable assays from this hole include 1m at 219g/t Au from 25m, 3m at 15.4g/t Au from 141m, 13m at 2.29g/t Au from 62m, 3.35m at 5.86g/t Au from 229m, and 5m at 2.97g/t Au from 47m.

Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) said the results demonstrate the significant potential of the planned Stage 1 open pit.

Managing director Marc Ducler said the results continued to validate the geological and resource models within the proposed Stage 1 pit, with the 1.54g/t weighted average grade across the latest batch exceeding expectations.

“Additionally, drill-hole AMRCD374, which was collared inside the proposed Theia Stage 1 pit as part of the Theia Deeps program has delivered impressive high-grade results,” he noted.

“Although the hole was terminated before reaching its intended Theia Deeps target due to excessive deviation, it intersected multiple high-grade zones including 1m at 219g/t Au, 3m at 15.4g/t Au and 13m at 2.29g/t Au, as well as a host of other mineralised intercepts.

“In all, the 319-metre hole delivered 426.5 gram-metres of mineralisation along the hole length, further reinforcing the high-grade opportunity the early stages of Theia represent.”

Full article: https://stockhead.com.au/resources/astrals-high-grade-gold-hits-add-weight-to-theia-stage-1/