Further Ore Sorting trials to focus on upgrade of key deposit at the Sandstone gold project, WA
- Following completion of a large diameter diamond core hole (MSDD261), a further campaign of ore sorting is set to commence to verify the positive results received from initial testwork on the Two Mile Hill tonalite deeps deposit at the Company’s 100%-owned Sandstone gold project in WA.
- Precursor to first mineral resource for upper half of the exploration target and potential economic upgrade for project.
- Previous scoping level testwork indicated that sorting can deliver a 185% - 257% increase in grade, with gold recoveries in excess of 93% and 64% of the sorter feed material being rejected.
- The new more definitive, ore sorting campaign will include iterations around crush size and grade range, designed to enhance the original results.
- Validation would likely lead to a significant positive impact on project economics, delivering reduced haulage and process operating costs, and lower tailings disposal requirements.
- The Two Mile Hill tonalite deeps deposit, located 4km north of the Company’s 600,000tpa Sandstone gold processing plant, comprises an Exploration Target of 24Mt to 34Mt at 1.1g/t to 1.4g/t Au (0.9M-1.5Moz of gold).
- Hole MSDD261, drilled from surface to a depth of 284.5m with PQ and HQ diameter diamond core, returned an intercept of 100m at 2.02g/t Au from 55m to 155m downhole depth, including 7m at 18.1g/t Au, broadly consistent with previous holes at the Two Mile Hill deposit.
- On the reasonable assumption that ore sorting results will prove consistent with earlier trials, plans are in place to commence staged, RC pre-collared diamond drilling to upgrade the upper half of the Exploration Target (to a depth of ~420m) to a formal Mineral Resource.
Gold nugget weighing 13oz recovered from the Bullet Hill prospect.
Significant nugget finds identify further bedrock targets at the Sandstone gold project, WA
- Aggregate initial tribute gold production of 148.6oz in nuggets for the months of July and August 2017, of which Middle Island’s share is 22.2oz gold.
- Production includes individual nuggets up to 13oz in weight.
- Tribute activities have identified a further three potential bedrock gold targets at the Bullet Hill, Three Mile and McClaren prospects within the Sandstone gold project.
- The McClaren prospect is of particular interest, with in-situ ironstone hosting an abundance of coarse platy, free gold that appears to be of primary origin.
Middle Island’s share of tribute production (12.2oz gold) for July 2017
ASX Release – 13 February 2018 |
Heads of Agreement executed for option over Reo gold project in Burkina Faso, West Africa |
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Wirraminna gold resource more than doubles following infill drilling at Sandstone project, WA
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508.3m at 1.38g/t Au intersected in Two Mile Hill diamond drilling at Sandstone gold project, WA
- Following completion of a 231m diamond core extension to hole MSDD156 (to a final depth of 730m), a revised gold intercept of 3m at 1.38g/t Au was intersected at the Two Mile Hill deeps deposit within Middle Island’s Sandstone gold project in WA.
- MSDD156 is mineralised from the start of coring to 592m depth, including an intercept of 160m at 2.31g/t Au (from 432m to 592m depth).
- When combined with the RC pre-collar (MSDD155) immediately adjacent to MSDD156, the extended mineralised intercept becomes 551m at 1.33g/t Au.
- The intercept in MSDD156 is entirely consistent with previous diamond drilling at Two Mile Hill, including intersections of 7m at 1.52g/t, 230.4m at 1.62g/t, 353.3m at 1.04g/t, 141.0m at 2.30g/t and 156.3m at 1.14g/t Au.
- Drilling confirms the presence of a substantial and ubiquitously mineralised system measuring 250m in strike and up to 90m in width that is mineralised to at least 713m depth and remains open beneath this level.
- This latest drill intercept, along with encouraging results derived from recent metallurgical and mineralogical testwork, increases the potential for bulk underground mining beneath the proposed open-pit cutback at Two Mile Hill.
Second expansion for Sandstone with option to acquire nearby Dandaraga gold project
Highlights
- Middle Island has signed an Option Deed to acquire a 100% interest in the Dandaraga gold project, exercisable at any time within a three-year period upon payment of $200,000.
- Dandaraga is situated 16km southeast of Middle Island’s Sandstone gold project and processing plant, and 4km south of the haul road from the Lord Henry and Lord Nelson deposits.
- The Dandaraga geology comprises a succession of banded iron formations (BIFs), ultramafics, gabbros and, importantly, dolerites.
- The Dandaraga project incorporates a series of historic gold workings that remain untested or poorly tested by modern gold exploration.
- The more significant Agnes workings are developed on a zone of stockwork quartz veining within a dolerite unit, adjacent to which free gold has been identified in a highly brecciated, gossanous and quartz-veined BIF.
- The Dandaraga project is largely well-exposed, facilitating rapid, conventional and cost-effective exploration for additional targets.
- The Dandaraga acquisition presents both an immediate and attractive open pit exploration target at the Agnes gold prospect, and consolidates considerable exploration acreage into Middle Island’s well-endowed Sandstone gold tenure.
- The transaction is entirely consistent with Middle Island’s strategy to extend and enhance the proposed production schedule for the Company’s 100%-owned Sandstone gold processing plant.
- It will be the second such expansion, following the Company’s June signing of an option to acquire the Wirraminna gold project, situated immediately adjacent to the Sandstone project and within 1km of the processing plant.
Read the full market announcement.
415.2m at 1.34g/t Au intersected in
Two Mile Hill diamond drilling at Sandstone gold project, WA
- Gold intersection of 415.2m at 1.34g/t Au, ending in mineralisation, encountered in deepest diamond hole, MSDD156, drilled to date at the Two Mile Hill prospect within Middle Island’s Sandstone gold project.
- Cored portion of MSDD156 mineralised from start to finish and remains open at depth, with the final interval comprising 66.9m at 3.27g/t Au (from 432m to end of hole at 498.9m).
- When combined with the RC pre-collar (MSDD155) immediately adjacent to MSDD156, the extended mineralised intercept becomes 457.9m at 1.28g/t Au.
- Veining, alteration and associated gold mineralisation in MSDD156 is consistently developed throughout the entire hole.
- The intercept in MSDD156 is entirely consistent with previous diamond drilling at Two Mile Hill, which includes:-
372.7m at 1.52g/t Au
230.4m at 1.62g/t Au
353.3m at 1.04g/t Au
141.0m at 2.30g/t Au
156.3m at 1.14g/t Au
230.4m at 1.62g/t Au
353.3m at 1.04g/t Au
141.0m at 2.30g/t Au
156.3m at 1.14g/t Au
- Drilling confirms the presence of a substantial and ubiquitously mineralised system measuring 250m in strike and up to 80m in width that is mineralised to at least 500m depth.
- Result increases the possibility of bulk underground mining beneath the proposed open-pit cutback at Two Mile Hill.
Drilling represents part of three-hole programme supported by WA Government drill funding.
*Please refer to the Company’s ASX Announcements page
http://www.middleisland.com.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?keyword=InvestmentHighlights
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