Drilling Extends Rise and Shine Gold Mineralisation with 27m at 2.3 g/t Au
Santana Minerals reports promising assay results from recent drilling at its Rise and Shine deposit, revealing extensions of high-grade gold mineralisation beyond current resource boundaries. These findings hint at significant upside potential for the project’s resource base.
- New drilling extends high-grade gold mineralisation south and at depth
- Parallel mineralised zones discovered outside current resource model
- Geotechnical drilling confirms mineralisation continuity near pit walls
- Infill drilling underway to upgrade resource classification
- Regional exploration progressing under RINA program
Extending the Gold Footprint
Santana Minerals Ltd (ASX/NZX: SMI) has announced encouraging assay results from its latest drilling campaign at the Rise and Shine (RAS) gold deposit. The four recent drill holes targeted extensions of the ore system to the south and at depth, successfully intersecting high-grade gold mineralisation beneath the current pit designs. This suggests the deposit’s footprint is larger than previously modelled, with notable intercepts such as 27 metres at 2.3 g/t gold including a spectacular 1 metre at 90.6 g/t.
Emerging Parallel Mineralised Zones
CEO Damian Spring highlighted the discovery of a parallel zone of mineralisation offset from the main high-grade core. This quartz stockwork lode lies beneath the existing open pit designs and outside the current Mineral Resource estimate, representing a potentially valuable new target. The presence of multiple quartz veins forming a well-developed stockwork system could add meaningful tonnage and grade to the project.
Geotechnical Drilling Adds Confidence
Alongside resource extension drilling, geotechnical holes designed to assess pit wall stability also intersected narrow zones of mineralisation extending into planned pit walls. While these intercepts are not sufficient to justify pit expansion, they confirm high-grade continuity beyond the current resource model and could be accessed via short lateral development. This adds a layer of optionality to mine planning and resource conversion.
Advancing Resource Classification and Regional Exploration
With the current infill drilling phase at RAS South completed and assays pending from remaining holes, the company has shifted focus to extension and infill drilling at RAS North. This aims to expand the mineralised footprint and increase drill density to upgrade resource classification from Inferred to Indicated, a critical step towards feasibility studies. Concurrently, regional exploration continues under the RINA (RAS-is-Not-Alone) program, with sterilisation and validation drilling at satellite deposits Come-in-Time and Srex to support future mine planning.
Looking Ahead
These drilling results reinforce Santana Minerals’ strategy to grow and upgrade its resource base at Rise and Shine, underpinning the project’s long-term development potential. The discovery of mineralisation outside current models and the ongoing regional work suggest further upside remains to be unlocked.
Bottom Line?
Santana’s latest drilling success at Rise and Shine sets the stage for resource upgrades and expanded mine potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending assay results from remaining holes impact the overall resource estimate?
- What is the economic potential of the newly identified parallel mineralised zone?
- When can investors expect an updated Mineral Resource Estimate reflecting these extensions?
