Santana Minerals Ltd (ASX/NZX: SMI) has released high-grade assay results yesterday from its ongoing drilling program at the Rise and Shine (RAS) deposit. The drilling program had two primary aims: to extend the RAS ore system to the south and at depth, and to conduct geotechnical drilling of wall positions for the open pit.
Drilling has successfully extended the RAS ore system to the south and at depth. Drill holes MDD418 and MDD419 both returned high-grade gold mineralization beneath the current pit designs. Key intercepts include:
- MDD418: 27.0m @ 2.3 g/t Au from 153.0m (true width 26.2m), including 4.0m @ 11.4 g/t Au from 170.0m
- MDD419: 3.0m @ 37.4 g/t Au from 185.0m (true width 2.9m), including 1.0m @ 90.6 g/t at 185.0m, 15.0m @ 2.2 g/t Au from 195.0m (true width 14.4m), and 7.0m @ 5.9 g/t Au from 86.0m (true width 5.7m)
Geotechnical drilling also intersected mineralized zones outside the current resource model. While these zones are not considered substantial enough for a further pit cutback, they confirm high-grade continuity beyond the modeled resource and could be accessed via short lateral development from existing ramp stages. Drill holes MDD414 and MDD422 intersected the following:
- MDD414: 4.0m @ 10.5 g/t Au from 240.0m (true width 2.9m) and 2.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au from 259.0m (true width 1.4m)
- MDD422: 2.0m @ 1.4 g/t Au from 85.0m (true width 1.6m) and 3.0m @ 1.6 g/t Au from 168.0m (true width 2.5m)
CEO Damian Spring stated, “Due to challenging terrain, RAS South has seen limited drilling to date. However, with each new hole, our understanding of the area’s potential continues to improve. A parallel zone of high-grade mineralisation, offset from the main high-grade core at RAS, is emerging, and notably, it lies outside the current Mineral Resource estimate.”
The company has completed the current phase of infill drilling at RAS South, with assays pending for remaining holes. The focus has shifted to extension and infill drilling of the main RAS high-grade core. Regional exploration and sterilization drilling programs are also ongoing.
Full release can be read here.
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