Hawthorn Resources Launches Key Drilling to Unlock Anglo Saxon Gold Potential
Hawthorn Resources corrects its ASX announcement to include detailed Mineral Resource Estimates and confirms the Competent Person for its Anglo Saxon Gold Project. The company has also initiated an 8,000m drilling program aimed at expanding and de-risking the resource.
- Correction includes full Mineral Resource Estimate breakdown
- Competent Person Statement updated with Mr Andrew Bewsher confirmed
- Commencement of two-stage 8,000m RC drilling program
- Focus on expanding and de-risking Anglo Saxon open pit resource
- 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate – 796kt at 6.1g/t gold for 157koz above 3g/t cutoff
Correction and Compliance Update
Hawthorn Resources Limited has issued a correction to its previous ASX announcement from early August, now providing a comprehensive breakdown of its Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Anglo Saxon Gold Project. This update also includes an amended Competent Person Statement, officially confirming Mr Andrew Bewsher as the qualified expert responsible for the resource declaration, in line with the 2012 Australasian Code for Reporting Exploration Results.
Drilling Program Initiation
Alongside this compliance update, Hawthorn has commenced a significant two-stage reverse circulation (RC) drilling program totaling 8,000 metres. The initial 3,000 metres will be followed by a further 5,000 metres, contingent on early results. This drilling campaign aims to enhance confidence in the existing resource model and to support plans for a potential open pit cutback, which could unlock additional high-grade gold mineralisation.
Project Context and Location
The Anglo Saxon Gold Project is situated within the South Laverton Tectonic Zone of the eastern Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia, approximately 170 kilometres north-northeast of Kalgoorlie. The project is operated as a joint venture, with Hawthorn Resources holding a 70% stake and Gel Resources Pty Ltd owning 30%. Its proximity to established gold operations such as Northern Star’s Carosue Dam and Ramelius’ Rebecca development underscores the region’s mining potential.
Resource Details and Geological Insights
The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate reported 796,000 tonnes grading 6.1 grams per tonne gold, equating to 157,000 ounces above a 3g/t cutoff grade. The mineralisation occurs primarily within narrow quartz-pyrite veins hosted in a shear-bound alteration zone, extending to depths of 250 vertical metres and remaining open at depth and along strike. Historical mining has focused on near-surface deposits, but recent deeper drilling has revealed promising mineralisation beneath and adjacent to the existing open pit.
Strategic Implications
The ongoing drilling program is designed to test continuity between known mineralised zones and to potentially extend the resource footprint. A recent pit optimisation study supports the economic viability of mining an expanded open pit at current gold prices, contingent on successful drilling outcomes. The results from this program will be critical in refining the resource model and advancing the project towards development.
Bottom Line?
Hawthorn’s drilling campaign at Anglo Saxon could redefine the project’s scale and economics, setting the stage for a pivotal resource update.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the drilling confirm continuity and expand the current Mineral Resource Estimate?
- How might updated resource confidence influence project development timelines?
- What are the implications of the pit optimisation study for future mining methods?
