Diamond hole AMRCD260 returned multiple intersections both within the pit shell that correlate with inferred resources and significantly below known mineralisation.

Best results are:

  • 52.60m grading 1.48g/t Au from a down-hole depth of 389.4m;
  • 7m at 5.22g/t Au from 583m; and
  • 43.86m at 0.87g/t Au from 605m.

Hole AMRCD261 delivered a significant intersection of 54m at 2.38g/t Au from 316m below the resource pit shell and ended in mineralisation (14.77m at 0.78g/t Au from 601.13m) with visible gold observed at 603.33m down-hole.

Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) said nine holes had been completed to date in the program, which had been expanded from the original six holes to 12.

Managing director Marc Ducler said the deep drilling program continued to demonstrate significant growth potential beyond the current resource while confirming mineralisation within the pit shell.

“Additionally, AMRCD376 – for which assays are pending and which is located 170 metres to the east of AMRCD260 on the same section – is visually encouraging with broad zones of alteration typical of the Theia gold mineralisation system (quartz, abundant sulphides, and visible gold logged extensively through the hole), providing encouragement that gold mineralisation may extend further at depth,” he said.

“Further south, AMRCD261 has also demonstrated potential for growth at Theia, returning an intercept of 54m at 2.38g/t gold from 316m, with this newly identified mineralisation located outside the April 2026 Mineral Resource shell.

“It is important to note that this hole ended in mineralisation, with visible gold observed on the non-sample side of the core at 603.33m.

“AMRCD262, which is located 50 metres to the east on the same section as AMRCD261, has also intersected a significant zone of quartz, sulphides and visible gold, extending from inside the base of the pit for a potential 235m vertical extension.”

The Theia deposit is central to the company’s mining plans.

In the production case outlined by the pre-feasibility study, Theia contributes 1.1Moz or about 75% of the 1.48Moz total.

Under the PFS, the deposit will be developed as an open pit over five stages with the Stage 1 pit covering 4.2Mt at 1.1g/t Au for 146,000oz of contained gold over the first 21 months of the project.

Current deep diamond drilling is designed to test for depth extensions at Theia below the resource estimate to determine its potential for broader scale.

Deep diamond drilling is progressing with nine holes completed in the expanded 12-hole, 7500m program.

Continued success is likely to see more holes added in the near future.

AAR is also continuing a 431-hole infill drilling program within the planned Stage 1 open pit, with 140 holes for 13,750m completed.

Sterilisation drilling at Mandilla and planned work at the Kamperman and Spiders deposits at the Feysville and Spargoville projects respectively remain subject to heritage clearance surveys.