お知らせ • May 26
Ausgold Limited Expands Katanning Gold Resource to 2.16 Million Ounces
Ausgold Limited announced a significantly upgraded JORC 2012 Code-compliant Mineral Resource estimate for the Company's 100%-owned Katanning Gold Project (KGP) located 275km south-east of Perth, Western Australia. Highlights: JORC Resource has increased to 56 Mt at 1.21 g/t for 2,160,000 oz gold following the completion of 26,700m of new RC and diamond drilling within Resource areas Further 320,000 oz added to total Resource (17% increase). 1.78 Moz in Measured and Indicated Resource categories (33% increase). 957,000 ounces of gold has now been added during the last 12 months with best-in-class discovery economics of $11 per Resource ounce. Supports a stand-alone open-pit operation with the majority of Resource currently reported above 150mRL with further underground potential identified. Prefeasibility study well advanced, targeting June 2022 completion. Ausgold has developed a robust understanding of the geology hosting the KGP gold mineralisation, which is demonstrated by the recent upgrade, and with potential identified to further expand the current Resource. Untested down-hole EM targets along strike from the Jinkas high-grade underground lode, with drilling commencing in June. Resource remains open at depth and along strike, showing potential for further discovery; recent drilling completed beyond current Resource estimate. Further extensions and high value targets within the Southern and Northern Zones identified. At regional targets, including Duggan, Tamacurring and Datatine, recent drilling has intercepted high- grade mineralisation showing potential beyond the current Resource areas. The expanded Resource, which now totals 2.16 million ounces of gold, represents a 17% increase in total contained ounces compared with the previous Resource estimate which had itself been upgraded in December 2021. The updated KGP gold Resource was reported and classified in accordance with the 2012 JORC Code and has further expanded the Central and Southern Zone Resources. Over 26,700m reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling has been completed since the December 2021 Resource Estimation. Of this new drilling assays have been received for 230 RC drill holes for 22,413m and 7 diamond drillholes for 865m which have added a further 320,000 ounces to the Resource. Importantly, the new drilling has increased Measured and Indicated Resource categories a further 594,000 ounces, bringing this to a total of 1,784,000 ounces, which will form the basis of Prefeasibility Studies and form part of the Maiden Ore Reserve. The Central Zone represents the majority of the KGP Resource, including the stacked Jinkas-White Dam, Olympia and Jackson lodes, which has been updated by 15,078m of new RC and diamond drilling. The Southern Zone Resource has been updated by over 8,199m of new RC and diamond drilling, with the Dingo Resource, which now includes the Dingo South area, extending the Resource a further 900m along strike. The Datatine deposit remains unchanged from the 2019 estimation. However, further drilling has been conducted after the Resource upgrade with results awaited. Resource Upgrade Key Points: Addition of 320,000 Resource ounces 17% increase since December 2021 1.78 Moz in Measured and Indicated categories - a 33% increase, forming a substantial basis for the on-going Prefeasibility Studies 957,000 oz added to the Katanning Resource during 2021 at average cost of $11 per Resource ounce 0.56 Mt at 3.25 g/t Au for 59,000 ounces in Jinkas underground Resource, reported below 150mRL at a higher 1.8 g/t cut-off grade, now shows untested potential at depth, with planned drilling targeting down-hole EM targets a further 800m along strike Historical tails dam provides a further Resource of 9,730 ounces Addition of almost 26,700m new RC and diamond drilling in Resource areas since the previous (December 2021) estimate. With assays available for 23,300m of this new drilling Mineral Resource is reported at a 0.6 g/t Au cut-off grade for open pit and 1.8 g/t Au cut-off grade for underground Resource, which remains consistent with previous Resource estimates. Grade tonnage curve shows scale and grade of open-cut Resource at a variety of cut-off grades A summary of the key technical aspects of the Resource update is provided in Appendix 1 as per Section 5.8.1 of the ASX Listing Rules. Bulk of Resource is considered as Open Pitable and is reported above 150mRL, to an approximate maximum depth of 220m from surface Improvements to the mineralisation model confirm continuity along strike, with three laterally extensive mineralised systems (Jinkas, White Dam and Jackson) defined from west to east. Next Steps: The Prefeasibility Study (PFS) is rapidly advancing, with completion due late Second Quarter CY2022. Project Development - Work is underway to support the PFS, which will assess potential mine development scenarios. GR Engineering Services Limited has been engaged to lead the engineering and cost estimate aspects of the PFS, and the Company anticipates that the PFS will be completed in Second Quarter 2022. Metallurgical test work ongoing test work is now focused on optimisation of the comminution flow sheet along with leach test work on fresh composites. Initial waste rock and tailings characterisation test work continues. Community and environmental studies stakeholder engagement is underway along with development of the approvals pathway and includes the appointment of a stakeholder and environmental manager. At present one RC rig is operating at the KGP, drilling in both the Central and Southern Zones and testing Resource extensions, to be followed up by a diamond rig in early June. Rifle Range drilling RC drilling has been completed along the eastern edge of the Rifle Range area, targeting the down-dip portions of the Dingo deposit. Additional drilling is planned for Rifle Range, further expanding the Resource potential over 2.5km of strike length for the Southern Zone. Jinkas Deeps Planned deep drilling will target the down-plunge gold mineralisation at the Jinkas lode within the Central Zone. This new drilling is supported by several untested down-hole EM plates at 400m vertical depth, extending a further 800m north along strike. Regional exploration review underway within Ausgold's 5,500km2 Katanning regional tenement package, this will include: EIS co-funded drill program is targeting follow-up RC and downhole EM programs underway at Northeast KGP, at the Duggan and Tamacurring prospects.
