Santana Minerals Unveils Major Down-Plunge Extension at Rise and Shine Gold Deposit
Santana Minerals has reported a significant high-grade gold intercept extending the Rise and Shine deposit 250 metres down plunge, suggesting a potentially much larger orebody and longer mine life.
- High-grade intercept of 10.9m at 3.0g/t Au from 591.1m depth
- Extension of Rise and Shine deposit 250m down plunge
- Northernmost drill holes confirm mineralisation continuity
- Potential to extend mine life beyond current underground plan
- Further step-out drilling campaigns planned
Exploration Breakthrough at Rise and Shine
Santana Minerals Limited has announced promising new drilling results from its Rise and Shine (RAS) gold deposit, located within the Bendigo Ophir Gold Project in New Zealand. The latest diamond drill hole, MDD466, intersected a high-grade gold zone measuring 10.9 metres at 3.0 grams per tonne (g/t) from a depth of 591.1 metres, extending the known mineralisation approximately 250 metres down plunge beyond previous intercepts.
This discovery marks the northernmost extension of the RAS system to date and confirms that the high-grade core of the deposit remains open and robust at depth. A secondary intercept from hole MDD471, located about 250 metres east, returned a lower grade but still mineralised zone, indicating the deposit’s mineralisation footprint is broader than previously understood.
Implications for Mine Life and Planning
According to CEO Damian Spring, these results are highly encouraging from a mine-life perspective. While the deposit is still approximately 15 years away from production, the extension sits about 70 metres below the current underground mine plan’s reserves. Given that existing reserves average around 2,500 ounces per vertical metre, this new zone could significantly enhance the project’s long-term value and operational outlook.
Spring emphasised that further infill drilling is required to fully evaluate the resource, but the continuity of mineralisation down plunge suggests the orebody is far from fully delineated. The company is now preparing for additional step-out drilling campaigns to further test the northern extensions and refine the resource model.
Technical Rigor and Compliance
The announcement includes comprehensive technical details consistent with the 2012 JORC Code, underscoring the reliability of the sampling, assaying, and data management processes. Drill core recoveries are high, and quality control measures such as certified standards, blanks, and duplicate samples have been rigorously applied. Independent audits and reviews have validated the exploration data, providing confidence in the reported results.
The Rise and Shine deposit is part of a broader mineralised shear zone system that includes several other deposits within the Bendigo Ophir project. The geological setting is characterised by low-angle shear zones with stacked quartz vein swarms hosting coarse free gold, a style that bodes well for underground mining operations.
Looking Ahead
Santana Minerals’ ongoing exploration efforts at Rise and Shine, combined with metallurgical, environmental, and geotechnical studies, are laying the groundwork for future mine development. The company’s methodical approach to expanding and upgrading its resource base will be closely watched by investors seeking exposure to high-grade gold assets with long-term growth potential.
Bottom Line?
Santana’s Rise and Shine deposit shows promising growth potential, but the path to production remains a multi-year journey requiring sustained exploration and evaluation.
Questions in the middle?
- How will further drilling impact the current resource classification and reserve estimates?
- What are the economic implications of extending the high-grade zone deeper than current mine plans?
- How might metallurgical and geotechnical studies influence the feasibility of mining these new extensions?
