Gold Grades Up to 7.53 g/t Found Over 550m Strike at Antler Deposit
New World Resources has identified a significant gold-rich alteration zone at its Antler Deposit, promising to boost the project's resource base and economic outlook ahead of a planned resource update and DFS in late 2025.
- Discovery of gold mineralization outside existing Antler Copper Resource
- Gold grades identified over 550m strike and 1000m dip extent
- Alteration zone located near planned underground infrastructure
- Resource update and Definitive Feasibility Study scheduled for 2025
- Potential to enhance mineable inventory, project economics, and funding options
Significant Gold Discovery at Antler Deposit
New World Resources Limited (ASX: NWC) has announced the identification of a previously unrecognised gold-rich alteration zone at its flagship Antler Copper Project in Arizona, USA. This discovery, emerging from an ongoing geological review, reveals elevated gold mineralization outside the current high-grade copper resource and mine plan, marking a potentially transformative development for the project.
The newly identified gold mineralization is associated with an intensely altered hydrothermal footwall and stringer zone, extending over 550 metres along strike and 1000 metres down dip. Importantly, much of this zone lies close to planned underground mining infrastructure, facilitating its integration into future mine plans.
Implications for Resource and Project Economics
The Antler Deposit is already recognised as one of the world's highest-grade copper deposits on a copper-equivalent basis, with the current JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) comprising 11.4 million tonnes at 2.1% copper, 5.0% zinc, 0.9% lead, 32.9 g/t silver, and 0.36 g/t gold. The discovery of gold grades significantly higher than previously modelled, such as intercepts up to 7.53 g/t Au, could materially enhance the project's economic returns and funding prospects.
New World’s Managing Director, Nick Woolrych, highlighted the potential value uplift, stating that the gold mineralization represents an "exciting potential new source of value". The company is advancing detailed exploration and geological modelling, supported by one of the world’s leading volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) experts, to fully delineate this zone.
Path to Definitive Feasibility and Production
The gold-rich alteration zone will be incorporated into an updated Resource model, expected in the coming months, feeding into the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) targeted for completion by Q4 2025. This DFS will build on the positive Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) released in July 2024, which evaluated underground mining and associated infrastructure.
New World is concurrently progressing permitting and financing activities, aiming to unlock the full value of the Antler Project and commence production by 2027. The discovery of additional gold mineralization not only strengthens the resource base but also enhances the project's resilience and attractiveness to investors.
Exploration Upside and Regional Potential
The Antler Deposit remains open at depth and along strike, with ongoing drilling programs designed to test priority targets. The company also holds interests in the Javelin VMS Project and the Tererro Copper-Gold-Zinc Project, both in the southwestern United States, underscoring its broader exploration ambitions.
New World’s systematic approach to exploration and resource evaluation continues to reveal promising upside, reinforcing the strategic importance of the Antler Project within its portfolio.
Bottom Line?
As New World Resources integrates this gold discovery into its resource model, the Antler Project’s economic and strategic profile is set for a compelling upgrade ahead of production.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the inclusion of gold mineralization affect the overall mine plan and production profile?
- What are the expected timelines and milestones for the updated Resource estimate and DFS?
- Could further drilling reveal additional extensions of the gold-rich alteration zone or other satellite deposits?
