Recent exploration within the Tomingley Gold Project (TGP) has focussed on defining targets that will add to the resource inventory and further extend mine life for the Tomingley Gold Operation (Tomingley). The exploration included diamond, RC and aircore drilling of several targets; detailed aeromagnetics; airborne gravity; lithogeochemistry for host rock characterisation.
- Drilling at the El Paso prospect and south of the San Antonio deposit (406,000oz Au resource) has improved understanding of the local geology, leading to the delineation of new targets for testing. New prospective andesite targets were identified east and south of San Antonio within the mining lease and significant mineralisation associated with a prospective dacite unit was intersected at El Paso. Results include:
| EPD013 | 12 metres grading 1.50g/t Au from 297 metres |
| incl | 4 metres grading 2.55g/t Au from 301 metres |
| EPP051 | 3 metres grading 1.49g/t Au from 130 metres |
| and | 12 metres grading 1.07g/t Au from 216 metres |
| incl | 1 metre grading 4.36g/t Au from 216 metres |
| also | 1 metre grading 3.98g/t Au from 221 metres |
- Four RC drill holes tested along-strike and down-dip to the known mineralisation at the Plains prospect hosted within an extensive basaltic andesite. The results indicate the gold structures are continuous and further work will be scheduled:
| RWRC481 | 9 metres grading 0.76g/t Au from 165 metres |
| and | 4 metres grading 0.89g/t Au from 184 metres |
| RWRC482 | 6 metres grading 1.31g/t Au from 312 metres |
- Regional aircore drilling has identified new zones of gold mineralisation in the eastern portion of the host Mingelo Volcanics. Assay results have been received from 85 holes drilled along traverses spaced 500m to 1,000m apart. The most significant zone is from three adjacent holes about 1km southeast of the El Paso prospect:
| EPAC158 | 3 metres grading 0.43g/t Au from 96 metres |
| and | 2 metres grading 0.68g/t Au from 108 metres |
| EPAC159 | 3 metres grading 0.70g/t Au from 78 metres |
| EPAC182 | 3 metres grading 0.31g/t Au from 75 metres |
- An airborne gravity gradiometry survey was completed over the northern half of the TGP. Interpretation of the data has improved delineation of the Mingelo Volcanics belt with new structures identified and the discovery of a possible new volcanic belt buried to the east of Peak Hill.
- An honours research project on the epithermal gold (±copper) deposits at Peak Hill was completed at the end of 2023. The project sought to identify a link between the known epithermal gold deposits and a potential porphyry copper-gold deposit at depth. The project found that the Peak Hill epithermal system is deeply eroded and that an underlying porphyry source could be in proximity to the Peak Hill gold deposits.
- Reprocessed 2D seismic data has identified a high priority drill target characterised as a flexure in a significant structure inferred to be a major gold conduit 2km southwest of TGO and only 800m below surface.
- Drilling and exploration data compiled from these activities has enabled a number of targets to be prioritised, with follow-up scheduled for this quarter.
Alkane Managing Director, Nic Earner, said: “We continue to explore at Tomingley both within our approved mining areas and regionally. With current plans already extending to 2032, we are seeking to add further mine life, scale, and grade to Tomingley. It is pleasing to see the various exploration targets around Tomingley yielding results and we look forward to continuing to add to our resource base.”