Asra Minerals has reported a significant high-grade gold intercept near surface at its Eclipse Prospect within the Leonora South Gold Project, reinforcing historic data and promising further resource potential.
- 14m at 7.49 g/t gold intersected from 12m depth in drill hole NIC017
- 40-hole, 3,432m reverse circulation drilling program completed at Eclipse and Challenge prospects
- Results confirm historic high-grade mineralisation near Kookynie, Western Australia
- Remaining 39 drill hole assays expected in early September
- Plans underway for geological review and potential resource modelling
Strong Start at Eclipse Prospect
Asra Minerals Ltd (ASX – ASR) has kicked off its latest exploration campaign with a standout result from the Eclipse Prospect, part of its Leonora South Gold Project in Western Australia’s prolific Eastern Goldfields. The company’s recent reverse circulation drilling program delivered a broad, high-grade gold intercept of 14 meters at 7.49 grams per tonne (g/t) from a shallow depth of just 12 meters in drill hole NIC017. This result not only validates historic drilling but also highlights the prospect’s potential for near-surface gold mineralisation.
Context Within a Rich Gold District
The Eclipse Prospect lies close to the historic Orion and Sapphire Gold Mines, which together hold a mineral resource estimate of approximately 48,000 ounces at 2.2 g/t gold. Asra’s drilling program, comprising 40 holes totaling 3,432 meters across Eclipse and the nearby Challenge Prospect, was designed to confirm and extend known mineralisation. The initial assays from NIC017 confirm the presence of high-grade quartz veining and gold mineralisation within altered mafic and felsic intrusive rocks typical of the region’s greenstone-hosted gold systems.
Technical Assurance and Next Steps
To address the challenges of coarse gold distribution, Asra employed both Photon Assay and conventional Fire Assay techniques, finding consistent results that bolster confidence in the data quality. The company is awaiting assay results from the remaining 39 drill holes, expected in early September, which will provide a fuller picture of the mineralisation extent. Meanwhile, detailed geological logging and precise drill collar surveys are underway to support future resource modelling efforts.
Strategic Implications for Asra Minerals
Managing Director Paul Stephen expressed optimism about the results, emphasizing the potential scale of the Leonora South Gold Project and the validation of historic data. The shallow depth and high grade of the intercept suggest attractive mining economics could be achievable if further drilling confirms continuity. Asra’s substantial landholding in the Eastern Goldfields, combined with these promising early results, positions the company well for resource growth and potential consolidation in a renowned gold mining region.
Looking Ahead
Asra Minerals is poised to build on this momentum with the upcoming assay results and ongoing geological analysis. The company’s methodical approach to exploration and resource definition will be critical in unlocking value from the Leonora South Gold Project, with market participants watching closely for signs of a resource upgrade or development pathway.
Bottom Line?
Asra’s early drilling success at Eclipse sets the stage for a potentially transformative resource update in the coming months.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the remaining 39 drill holes confirm the continuity and scale of high-grade mineralisation?
- How might these results impact Asra’s overall resource estimates and project valuation?
- What are the next steps for advancing Eclipse and Challenge towards development?