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Goldman Strong RC drilling results reinforce depth and strike upside at Spargoville
Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) has reported significant high-grade gold intersections from recent reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Wattle Dam Complex within its Spargoville Gold Project in Western Australia.
The program, comprising 39 holes for 4,234 metres, targeted in-fill and extensional drilling across the Redback, Huntsman and Trapdoor deposits, with results continuing to support resource growth and depth extensions.
Key standout intersections include:
- 13m at 7.10g/t Au from 87m, including 2m at 34.6g/t Au from 92m and 5m at 1.88g/t Au from 162m (SGRC089)
- 5m at 9.35g/t Au from 38m, including 3m at 13.8g/t Au from 39m, plus 13m at 1.04g/t Au from 47m (SGRC106)
- 4m at 11.0g/t Au from 122m, including 1m at 40.0g/t Au from 123m (SGRC098)
- 15m at 2.04g/t Au from 84m (SGRC122)
- 7m at 3.95g/t Au from 80m (SGRC092)
The drilling confirms that high-grade mineralisation is associated with the eastern contact of an interpreted porphyry unit, aligning with existing geological models. Importantly, several of these results represent the deepest tests along their respective drill lines, indicating the system remains open at depth.
In addition to reinforcing continuity at Redback and Huntsman, the program has extended mineralisation up to 150 metres beyond the current resource in some areas. The company also identified multiple high-priority regional targets following an exploration targeting workshop, with drilling planned through 2026.
At the Mandilla Gold Project, ongoing activity includes sterilisation RC drilling, in-fill drilling at the Theia open pit, and a diamond drilling program targeting depth extensions below the current pit design. Three rigs are currently operating on site as part of feasibility and development workstreams.
Astral Resources’ Managing Director Marc Ducler said:
The Spargoville Project’s Wattle Dam Gold Complex – which is located 2km west of our flagship Mandilla Gold Project – hosts a current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 2.1Mt at 1.3g/t Au for 91koz of contained gold within the Wattle Dam Stockwork, Redback, Trapdoor, Huntsman, Golden Orb, S5 and 8500N deposits.
This recent RC program comprised of in-fill and extensional drilling at Redback, Huntsman and Trapdoor deposits to underpin an update to the current MRE, which is expected in the back half of 2026.
Best results from the program include 13m at 7.1g/t Au (SGRC089), 10m at 2.30g/t Au (SGRC094), 4m at 11.0g/t Au (SGRC098), 8m at 1.33g/t Au (SGRC105), 8m at 1.17g/t Au (SGRC118) and 15m at 2.04g/t Au (SGRC122).
The mineralisation, which is steeper than previously interpreted and appears to be associated with the eastern contact of a porphyry unit, remains open at depth.
Remodelling of the mineralisation across Redback, Trapdoor, Huntsman and Golden Orb is currently underway, which will feed into a follow up drill program in the coming months
At Mandilla, three rigs are currently operating, a diamond rig testing for depth extensions at Theia, an RC rig undertaking in-fill drilling to de-risk the first two stages of the Theia open pit, and a second RC rig conducting a sterilisation programme for waste rock landforms, tailings storage facilities and the process plant footprint.
Heritage surveys have also recently been completed on a granted miscellaneous licence to allow exploration for process water.
A further survey is being undertaken at Think Big to facilitate the proposed early gold mining opportunity with MMS1. Development studies and contract negotiations are well advanced, with a JV agreement anticipated in the coming weeks.
Once heritage work at Think Big is completed, the focus of the team will switch to surveying the infrastructure footprints for the Mandilla Gold Project development.
