Augustus Minerals Unveils New Gold Targets and Nugget Discoveries at Music Well

Expanding Gold Potential at Music Well

Augustus Minerals (ASX, AUG) has provided a comprehensive update on its Music Well gold project, situated 35 kilometres north of Leonora in Western Australia’s prolific Eastern Goldfields. The company’s ongoing exploration efforts have delineated several mineralised corridors characterised by high-grade gold-bearing quartz veins and significant bedrock alteration. These findings stem from surface sampling and historical drilling data, underscoring the project’s growing promise.

Structural Corridors and Geological Insights

The project area hosts three principal structural zones, the Central Belt, extending major northwest to northeast trends from established gold mines into Music Well; the Black Cat-Bulls Head Zone, aligned with northwest structures; and the Redcliffe West Zone, adjacent to the gold-bearing Mertondale-Mt Redcliffe Shear. These corridors are critical conduits for mineralisation and have been the focus of detailed mapping and sampling.

Significantly, the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) has identified four probable sanukitoid intrusions within the Music Well tenure. Sanukitoids are a distinctive type of granitoid rock associated with some of the region’s largest gold deposits, including the nearby Golden Cities/Federal mine camp and the Hemi discovery in the Pilbara. One such intrusion lies adjacent to the Black Cat East prospect, where rock chip samples have previously returned impressive gold grades up to 27.8 grams per tonne.

Gold Nuggets Reinforce Prospectivity

Adding to the excitement, prospectors have recovered over 470 gold nuggets across 11 identified patches within the project area. These nuggets, some weighing as much as 46 grams, are found in close proximity to the major mineralised structures, lending credence to the likelihood of substantive subsurface gold mineralisation. While the nuggets have not yet been assayed or are under the company’s control, their presence aligns with the geological and geophysical targeting, enhancing confidence in the project’s potential.

Next Steps, Drilling and Surveys

Looking ahead, Augustus Minerals plans to undertake heritage surveys at key prospects including Clifton East, St Patrick’s Well, and Dodd’s. These surveys are a prerequisite for the imminent reverse circulation (RC) drilling program designed to test priority targets identified through structural interpretation and geochemical anomalies. Complementary soil sampling will also be conducted over areas with limited outcrop and around nugget patches to refine targeting further.

Andrew Ford, General Manager Exploration, highlighted the evolving understanding of the project’s geology, noting that granitic terrains like Music Well are increasingly recognised for their potential to host major gold systems. The identification of sanukitoid intrusions is a pivotal development, elevating the project’s prospectivity in a region renowned for its rich gold endowment.

A Large-Scale Opportunity in a Proven District

Music Well encompasses a substantial landholding of approximately 1,345 square kilometres, positioning it among the largest exploration packages in the Leonora-Laverton Greenstone Belt. This district boasts over 28 million ounces of gold production, with several operating mines nearby. Augustus Minerals’ methodical approach, combining historical data with modern geological insights and active fieldwork, aims to unlock new discoveries within this highly prospective terrain.