Castle Minerals Unveils Strong Gold Intercepts at Kandia Prospect
Castle Minerals Limited reports robust gold intercepts from recent drilling at its Kandia Prospect in Ghana, confirming mineralisation continuity and depth extension with promising implications for resource growth.
- Four-hole RC drilling at Kandia's 4,000-Zone confirms mineralisation continuity and depth extension
- Notable intercepts include 7m at 3.36g/t Au and 5m at 3.49g/t Au from shallow depths
- Grade, mineralised width, and dip appear to increase with depth, indicating potential for resource expansion
- Kandia's 16km prospective contact offers multiple near-surface open-pitable deposit targets
- Follow-up drilling planned at Kandia and Kpali prospects to further delineate gold resources
Strong Drilling Results at Kandia
Castle Minerals Limited (ASX: CDT) has delivered encouraging results from its recent reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at the Kandia gold prospect, part of its expansive Wa Gold Project in Ghana's Upper West Region. The four-hole, 582-metre programme focused on the "4,000-Zone" has confirmed both the continuity of gold mineralisation and its extension to greater depths, with all holes intersecting significant gold grades.
Among the standout intercepts were 7 metres grading 3.36 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 149 metres depth within a broader 24-metre zone averaging 1.78 g/t Au, and 5 metres at 3.49 g/t Au from 82 metres within an 11-metre interval averaging 2.26 g/t Au. These results not only reinforce the prospect's potential but also suggest that grade, mineralised width, and dip increase with depth, hinting at a north-trending plunge that could be targeted in future drilling.
Strategic Significance of Kandia
The Kandia prospect lies along a 16-kilometre prospective contact zone between Birimian metasediments and a granodiorite intrusion, a geological setting known for hosting significant gold mineralisation in West Africa. Castle's drilling has so far concentrated on a 6-kilometre segment of this contact, with the "4,000-Zone" showing mineralisation over approximately 850 metres of strike.
Castle's Executive Chairman, Stephen Stone, highlighted the importance of these results, noting that the drilling has delivered "a lot of 'bang for our precious buck'" and provides a strong foundation to increase both tonnage and grade. He also pointed to the potential at other zones such as the "8,000-Zone," where artisanal mining activity further confirms mineralisation presence.
Broader Project Context and Next Steps
The Wa Gold Project encompasses multiple prospects, including Kandia and Kpali, with Castle aiming to delineate an initial combined resource of around one million ounces of gold. The Kandia prospect alone holds a maiden JORC-compliant resource estimate of approximately 92,700 ounces at 1.0 g/t Au, combining indicated and inferred categories.
Looking ahead, Castle plans extensional drilling at the 4,000-Zone and targeted drilling at other historically identified zones along the prospective contact. Results from an eight-hole RC programme at the Kpali prospect are anticipated in early February 2025, which could further enhance the project's resource profile.
Regional Gold Exploration Dynamics
Ghana's Upper West Region is increasingly recognised as a fertile ground for gold discoveries, with several multi-million-ounce deposits emerging in recent years. The Kandia prospect shares geological affinities with notable projects such as the 5.1 million ounce Namdini deposit and the Black Volta Gold Project, underscoring the strategic value of Castle's holdings.
Castle Minerals continues to advance its exploration with a disciplined approach, leveraging historical data and modern drilling techniques to unlock value. The company's commitment to rigorous sampling, assay quality control, and compliance with JORC standards adds credibility to its exploration outcomes.
Bottom Line?
Castle Minerals’ latest drilling success at Kandia sets the stage for a potential resource upgrade, but upcoming results from Kpali will be critical to confirming the broader project’s momentum.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the upcoming Kpali drilling results influence Castle Minerals’ resource estimates and market valuation?
- What is the potential scale of mineralisation along the full 16km Kandia contact zone beyond the currently drilled areas?
- How might regional infrastructure and permitting developments impact the timeline for advancing Kandia towards production?
