iTech Minerals has reinterpreted historical drilling data at its Sabre Gold-Antimony Prospect in the Northern Territory, expanding the known mineralised strike length from 500m to over 800m and identifying significant new drill targets.
- Correction of mislocated historical drill holes leads to new geological model
- Strike length of gold-antimony mineralisation extended from ~500m to 800m
- Stacked fold hinge model reveals multiple new target zones along strike and down plunge
- Petrological studies suggest microcrystalline gold may have caused assay underreporting
- Geophysical dipole-dipole IP surveys underway to refine drill targeting ahead of planned drilling
Reinterpreting Historical Data
iTech Minerals has announced a significant reinterpretation of its Sabre Gold-Antimony Prospect in the Reynolds Range, Northern Territory, following the identification of mislocated drill holes in historical datasets. This correction has allowed the company to develop a new geological model that expands the strike length of mineralisation from approximately 500 metres to over 800 metres, a substantial increase that reopens exploration potential in the area.
According to Managing Director Mike Schwarz, the discovery of these discrepancies in drill hole positioning has been pivotal. "A review of historical drilling has revealed a series of mislocated holes causing previous explorers to misinterpret the mineralisation at Sabre," Schwarz explained. "Rectifying these errors has not only aligned the mineralisation more coherently but also identified significant new drill targets both down plunge and along strike."
New Fold Model and Target Zones
The updated geological interpretation highlights a stacked hinge fold structure trending northwest-southeast, controlling the gold-antimony mineralisation. This fold model suggests multiple stacked hinge zones extending to the northeast and southwest, which remain untested. These structural complexities provide a framework for targeting high-grade mineralisation at depth and along strike, areas that were previously overlooked due to data inaccuracies.
Historical drill results support the prospectivity of the Sabre Prospect, with notable intercepts including 19 metres at 3.5 grams per tonne gold from 13 metres depth and 7 metres at 3.5 grams per tonne gold with 2.09% antimony. These results underscore the potential for significant gold-antimony mineralisation within the newly expanded strike length.
Assay Challenges and Petrological Insights
Petrological analysis has identified the presence of microcrystalline gold within the mineralisation, a form that can be challenging to assay accurately using conventional techniques. This has raised concerns about potential underreporting of gold grades in historical assays. iTech is currently conducting studies on existing drill core to establish more representative assaying methods, aiming to better quantify the true gold content.
Ongoing and Planned Exploration Activities
To support further targeting, iTech has commenced geophysical dipole-dipole induced polarization (IP) surveys at Sabre. These surveys are designed to map subsurface chargeability anomalies associated with sulphide mineralisation, which often correlates with gold-antimony deposits. The company plans to integrate these geophysical results with the new geological model to refine drill targets.
Drilling is expected to commence in the second half of 2025, focusing on testing extensions of the mineralisation down plunge and along strike, as well as the newly identified stacked hinge zones. The broader Reynolds Range project covers 791 square kilometres in the Paleoproterozoic Aileron Province and is 100% owned by iTech Minerals. The company also has a strategic partnership with SQM Australia Pty Ltd to develop lithium resources within the project area, adding further value to its portfolio.
Strategic Implications
This reinterpretation and expansion of the Sabre Prospect’s mineralised footprint could materially enhance the project’s value proposition. By correcting historical data errors and applying modern geological understanding and geophysical techniques, iTech is positioning itself to unlock previously unrecognised gold-antimony resources. The upcoming drilling campaign will be critical in validating the new model and potentially advancing the Sabre Prospect towards resource definition.
Bottom Line?
iTech Minerals’ revised geological model at Sabre sets the stage for a pivotal drilling campaign that could redefine the prospect’s gold-antimony potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will improved assay techniques affect the reported gold grades at Sabre?
- What are the expected timelines and scale for the upcoming drilling program?
- Could the expanded strike length translate into a significant resource upgrade?