Astral Resources NL has delivered its highest-ever assay result from deep diamond drilling at its 1.4-million-ounce Theia Deposit, part of the Mandilla gold project in Western Australia.
The latest results from the ongoing ‘Theia Deeps’ diamond drilling program returned exceptionally high gold grades alongside extensive zones of mineralisation.
Standout intercepts include a spectacular 31 metres at 13.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 288 metres, which featured the deposit’s highest-grade assay to date of 0.34 metres at 1,146.3g/t gold.
Another drill hole returned 40 metres at 3.30g/t gold from 332 metres, including 0.3 metres at 317g/t gold, followed by a broad depth extension of 111 metres at 1.12g/t gold from 424 metres, located well below the current open pit shell model.
Astral Resources Managing Director Marc Ducler said the deep drilling campaign continues to highlight the scale and potential growth of the Theia deposit.
“The Theia Deeps drill program has delivered some exceptionally high-grade individual assays along with broad zones of gold mineralisation, reinforcing the significant endowment of the Theia mineral system and the potential to grow the current resource,” Ducler said.
The strong depth extensions have prompted Astral to expand the program to 25 holes totalling 13,400 metres. Drilling operations at Theia are currently focused on in-fill work to achieve a 60-by-60-metre spacing, designed to support the potential inclusion of deep mineralisation into an updated Inferred Mineral Resource estimate.
The diamond rig will briefly relocate to the nearby Kamperman target in early December for six exploration and geotechnical holes, before returning to wrap up the Theia Deeps campaign in early 2027.
“Looking ahead, the phased 55-hole/10,000 metre RC program at the Spiders deposit at Spargoville is now scheduled to commence in the March 2027 quarter, once the Theia in-fill program is completed,” Ducler said.
Meanwhile, reverse circulation in-fill drilling at the main Stage 1 open pit remains underway and is scheduled for completion before the end of the year.