Van Uden Drilling Yields High-Grade Intercepts up to 8m @ 5.45g/t Au
TG Metals has updated its Van Uden Gold Project resource model following recent drilling and resurveying, revealing significant high-grade gold intercepts and confirming mineralisation continuity along a 2.5km strike. An updated JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate is expected by the end of May 2025.
- Recent 2024 drilling confirms down-dip continuity of gold mineralisation
- High-grade intercepts up to 8m @ 5.45g/t Au identified
- All drill collars since 2020 resurveyed and incorporated into updated resource model
- JORC 2012 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate update expected by late May
- Early production plans progressing with historic mine stockpile testing underway
Updated Drilling Reinforces Van Uden’s Potential
TG Metals Limited (ASX:TG6) has provided a comprehensive update on its Van Uden Gold Project in Western Australia, highlighting recent drilling results and resource modelling efforts that underpin the project's advancing development stage. The company has incorporated resurveyed drill collars and new 2024 drilling data, which notably tested down-dip extensions of gold mineralisation previously unaccounted for in resource models.
The drilling campaign, originally conducted by Montague Resources Australia Pty Ltd, yielded several high-grade intercepts, including standout results such as 8 metres at 5.45 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 93 metres depth and multiple intercepts exceeding 2 g/t Au over significant widths. These results confirm the continuity of mineralisation along a strike length of approximately 2.5 kilometres, supporting a simpler and more continuous geological model than previously understood.
Resurveying Enhances Resource Accuracy
Since 2020, TG Metals has undertaken a detailed resurveying of all drill collars using DGPS technology to improve the accuracy of spatial data feeding into the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). This meticulous approach ensures that the updated JORC 2012 compliant resource model will be robust and reflective of the true geometry and grade continuity of the deposit.
The updated resource modelling also integrates surface laterite mineralisation, an important gold-bearing domain that had not been fully accounted for in earlier estimates. This inclusion is expected to enhance the overall resource tonnage and grade profile, providing a more comprehensive foundation for forthcoming mining studies.
Pathway to Early Production and Development
Beyond resource expansion, TG Metals is advancing plans to test historic mine stockpiles at Van Uden, aiming to unlock early production opportunities. The company has engaged mining engineering expertise from Stephen Miller of Red Rock Engineering Pty Ltd to assess the feasibility of processing these stockpiles. Drilling of the stockpiles is underway, with analytical and metallurgical testing scheduled to complete by mid-2025.
CEO David Selfe emphasised the significance of the recent drilling results, stating that the data confirms a "significant amount of continuous gold mineralisation" and supports the updated resource model. The anticipated completion of the updated MRE by the end of May will set the stage for detailed mining studies and potential project development decisions.
Strategic Location and Project Context
The Van Uden Gold Project is strategically located within the prolific Forrestania Greenstone Belt of Western Australia, approximately 120 kilometres south of Southern Cross and near established gold processing plants such as Edna May and Marvel. This proximity to existing infrastructure enhances the project's attractiveness and potential for cost-effective development.
TG Metals also holds the nearby Johnston Project, a high-grade lithium asset, positioning the company with diversified exposure to critical minerals in a stable jurisdiction. The Van Uden Project’s resource update and early production initiatives thus represent a pivotal step in TG Metals’ broader growth strategy.
Bottom Line?
With a resource update imminent and early production plans advancing, TG Metals is poised to unlock significant value at Van Uden in the months ahead.
Questions in the middle?
- How materially will the updated Mineral Resource Estimate increase the current resource base?
- What are the expected timelines and capital requirements for transitioning from resource update to mining studies and production?
- How will the results from historic stockpile drilling influence early production feasibility and project economics?
