Rock Chips Up to 7.99g/t Gold Extend Clifton East Strike to 950m
Augustus Minerals has expanded the high-grade gold surface sampling zone at its Clifton East prospect near Leonora to approximately 950 metres, reinforcing the project's potential with impressive assay results.
- High-grade gold strike extended from 700m to ~950m at Clifton East
- Rock chip assays up to 7.99g/t gold from April 2025 sampling
- Multiple vein orientations suggest complex mineralised quartz systems
- Project covers over 1,300km² with minimal prior drilling
- Heritage surveys underway ahead of planned drilling campaigns
Expanding the Gold Footprint at Clifton East
Augustus Minerals (ASX: AUG) has announced a significant extension of its high-grade gold surface sampling zone at the Clifton East prospect, part of the expansive Music Well Gold Project in Western Australia. Recent rock chip sampling in April 2025 has pushed the strike length of mineralisation from an initial 700 metres to nearly 950 metres, marking a substantial increase in the known footprint of gold-bearing quartz veins.
The new assays include standout grades such as 7.99 grams per tonne (g/t) and 5.32 g/t gold, supporting earlier impressive results that featured samples exceeding 50 g/t. These findings underscore the prospect's potential, especially given that no drilling has yet tested these mineralised zones at depth.
Geological Complexity and Regional Context
Mapping efforts have revealed multiple clusters of veins with varying orientations, predominantly east-northeast and north-northeast, indicating a complex network of sheeted to stockwork quartz veins within altered granite. This structural complexity aligns with regional geological trends that link the Music Well Project to major gold belts and operating mines nearby, such as Darlot and King of the Hills.
Covering over 1,300 square kilometres, the Music Well Project is one of the largest exploration packages in the Leonora-Laverton greenstone belt, a region renowned for its prolific gold endowment exceeding 28 million ounces. Despite this, the Clifton East area has seen minimal historical exploration, making Augustus Minerals' discoveries particularly noteworthy.
Next Steps: Heritage Surveys and Drilling Preparation
Augustus Minerals is advancing its exploration program with ongoing geological mapping and sampling across the tenure. Importantly, heritage surveys are being conducted at Clifton East and other prospects to facilitate upcoming reverse circulation (RC) and aircore (AC) drilling campaigns. These steps are critical to unlocking the subsurface potential of the mineralised zones and moving towards resource definition.
Andrew Ford, General Manager Exploration, highlighted the rapid expansion of the prospect's strike length and the untapped nature of the gold-bearing quartz veins, noting the excitement around drilling what has so far been an untested area.
A Project Poised for Discovery
With a combination of high-grade surface results, strategic location near established gold operations, and a large, underexplored landholding, Augustus Minerals' Music Well Project is shaping up as a compelling exploration story. The forthcoming drilling campaigns, pending heritage clearances, will be closely watched by investors eager to see if the surface promise translates into a significant underground resource.
Bottom Line?
As Augustus Minerals prepares to drill, the true scale and depth of Clifton East’s gold potential remain to be revealed.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming drilling confirm continuity and depth of the high-grade gold zones?
- How will heritage survey outcomes impact the timing and scope of exploration?
- What is the potential for discovering additional mineralised zones within the vast Music Well tenure?
