Stockhead Investor: Astral strikes deep gold at Mandilla

Astral Resources has pushed the Theia deposit deeper at its Mandilla project in Western Australia, striking thick gold mineralisation about 210m below the current resource in a result that strengthens the case for a larger underground inventory.

The mineralised zone sits about 210m below the current resource, pointing to further growth potential at depth.

Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) managing director Marc Ducler said the result was important because much of the mineralisation sat outside the current resource envelope.

“Importantly, within a spectacular 358 metre total intersection, broad zones of mineralisation such as 127.3m at 1.20g/t Au from 352m and 81.5m at 1.35g/t Au from 518m occur almost entirely outside the existing Resource envelope and demonstrate significant potential to continue growing the Theia deposit at depth,” he said.

Ducler said geological logging revealed quartz veining, trace sulphides, and visible gold, all indicators of potential gold mineralisation at Theia.

Multiple zones support headline result

Within the broader hit, Astral reported several higher-grade zones, including 9.41m at 1.93g/t gold from 285m, 15.70m at 3.40g/t from 320.44m, 127.27m at 1.20g/t from 352m, 81.46m at 1.35g/t from 515.04m and 5.75m at 2.00g/t from 607.75m.

Higher-grade internal intervals included 0.43m at 121.6g/t gold from 330.02m, 0.34m at 72.2g/t from 355.09m and 0.3m at 71.1g/t from 465.85m.

Geological logging from AMRCD263 again confirmed a strong link between quartz veining, visible gold and economic mineralisation, consistent with earlier Theia results.

Momentum builds

Astral’s diamond drilling program is gathering pace, with three holes now complete and a fourth underway.

Geological logging prompted the company to deepen hole AMRCD264 to 605.3m, while the second hole, AMRCD259, has been processed and is awaiting assays.

An RC rig is also infill drilling the Stage 1 Theia open pit to tighten drill density and lift measured resources ahead of mining, with about 6,000m of the first phase now complete.

Full article: https://stockhead.com.au/resources/astral-strikes-deep-gold-at-mandilla/