Astral Resources NL Provides an Update on Mandilla Gold Project
Of the 19 holes outstanding, 9 were drilled at Theia for an aggregate 1,153 metres, with this program involving: 4 holes/710m drilled for infill and extensional purposes. 5holes/443m drilled as precollars to the currently underway diamond drilling program. The crosssection shown below illustrates the successful infill and extensional drilling results from MDRC638/639/640. These holes were originally planned as DDholes; however, being of limited depth and having regard to RC rig availability, they were drilled as RCholes. MDRC640 was designed to test a gap in the Resource on the western flank, while also following up for potential extensions of the highgrade mineralisation identified in MDGT007 closer to surface. MDRC639 was designed to test a potential crosscutting structure and its effect on an observed southerly highgrade trend on the eastern flank of the Theia deposit. MDRC638 was designed to test for an extension of the observed northerly mineralised trend from a previous hole (MDRC473) in the southern part of the Theia deposit, immediately below the current optimised pit shell. All three RC holes returned robust highgrade assay results as likely proofofconcept of the observed highgrade gold trends. This provides increased confidence in the current DD program and its ability to deliver further MRE growth certainly in terms of tonnage and, potentially, in terms of overall gold grade at Theia. The 10 outstanding RC holes totalling 1,708 metres were drilled at Iris to both test for mineralisation and confirm the stratigraphy immediately to the northwest of the deposit. MDRC624 returned a best result of 20 metres at 1.42g/t Au from 174 metres. The drillholes collared further to the west returned low levels of gold mineralisation. MDRC624 has demonstrated additional mineralisation beneath the current optimised pit shell. Further investigation is required to determine the structural control influencing mineralisation associated with the sediment/intrusive contact as observed in MDRC624. A 17hole/4,700m DD program at Theia is currently underway. To date, two diamond holes have been completed and a third is underway. The DD program has two primary aims: To test the western flank of the deposit to assist with Resource definition. To test two inferred highgrade gold trends that have been observed, one north trending (25°310°) and the other south trending (18°130°). MDRCD644 was orientated to the southeast to intersect the northeast crosscutting structures previously observed to be subparallel to historical drilling. A crosssection of Theia set out in Figure 6 below illustrates MDRCD644 as it intersects the section towards the bottom of hole. It depicts the visible gold observations, which have been logged from 363.5, 395.5 and 396.5 metres down hole. This hole was terminated at 456 metres downhole. Visible gold was also intersected at a depth of 448 metres, representing the deepest mineralisation identified to date at Mandilla. As such, mineralisation at Theia remains open at depth.