ASX-listed explorer Strickland Metals has intersected a flurry of gold hits at its Dusk til Dawn prospect in WA that extends mineralisation down-dip following a series of successful strikes from a maiden drill program at the same prospect late last year. A remodelling of the current 108,900 gold ounce resource is now underway at the prospect where the company believes it will add substantial gold ounces to the resource base.
Recent results received from the campaign that was undertaken in late 2021 at Dusk Til Dawn include 10 metres grading 3.1 grams per tonne gold from 314m downhole, 11m going 2.0 g/t gold from 249m and 6m at 1.3 g/t gold from 262m.
The Dusk Til Dawn prospect is located in the prospective North Yandal greenstone belt and runs parallel to the 10 million ounce plus juggernaut Jundee gold mine operated by Northern Star Resources.
Results from the recent drilling targeted the down-dip potential of previous hits recorded at Dusk Til Dawn that produced a plethora of solid results. Previously announced results included 33m grading 3.6 g/t gold from 61m downhole, 12m going 2.5 g/t gold from 24m and 10m at 1.9 g/t gold from 120m among myriad other notable returns.
Importantly, the results confirm the company’s newly modelled interpretation where all holes drilled intersected the modelled alteration zone where predicted. The company says the confirmation of the accuracy of the updated geological model bodes well for further discoveries in the surrounding terrain given the effectiveness of the current set of geophysical and geochemical techniques used at Dusk Til Dawn.
The company says previous drilling undertaken was not oriented correctly and the recent drilling confirms the accuracy of the reinterpreted model and could lead to a material increase in both grade and tonnage.
An updated mineral resource is expected to be finalised next month.
Last year, six drill holes for a total of 1,464m tested six regional geophysical ‘look-a-like’ targets prior to the RC drill rig finishing up in mid December. All holes drilled intersected potassic alteration that resembled the alteration at Dusk Til Dawn, opening multiple opportunities for mineralised repeats in the area.
An external study was also conducted on the alteration assemblages of the six drillholes. It found the core biotite-rich potassic alteration zone is broad and suggests there was significant fluid flow to potentially create the framework for a very large mineralisation system.
Up to 20 ‘look-a-like’ gravity targets have been identified that the company says could demonstrate the large-scale potential of the project area.
Furthermore, Strickland recently re-logged historic drilling in the area and subsequently identified a large alteration corridor to the north and south of Dusk Til Dawn that it plans to systematically drill during 2022.
Strickland hopes to have three drill rigs powering away across its Yandal project over the coming months targeting a resource drillout of its existing 346,000 gold ounce Millrose gold prospect in addition to testing other targets.
Strickland Metals’ Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bray said: “The drilling has confirmed the Company’s reinterpretation of the mineralisation at the prospect, with all holes intersecting the targeted zones where predicted.”
“Most excitingly, our growing understanding of the mineralisation in this area opens up a tremendous opportunity to intersect repeats of this style of mineralisation. There are twenty look-a-like targets within ~10km of strike in the immediate surrounding region.”
With multiple wide gold hits in an area that has previously experienced hap-hazard exploration attempts, Strickland looks to be paving the way to a sizeable gold portfolio.
Having kicked off the new year with drilling success just as it finished the end of last year, Strickland has added a whole new set of high priority targets to chase. Intriguingly positioned only a short trucking distance from the behemoth Jundee gold mine it bodes for an interesting year ahead.
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