Cardross Gold Resource Hits 502,000 Ounces, Total Gold Exceeds 1 Million Ounces
Tartana Minerals has announced a maiden inferred gold resource of over 500,000 ounces at its Cardross project, pushing its combined gold resources with Mountain Maid beyond 1 million ounces. The company is exploring processing upgrades to unlock further value from copper and silver credits.
- Cardross maiden inferred gold resource estimated at 502,000 ounces
- Combined Cardross and Mountain Maid gold resources exceed 1 million ounces
- Exploration target of 23–72 Mt at 0.2–0.3 g/t Au remains conceptual
- Potential copper, silver, and rare earth credits excluded pending assays
- Plans to add carbon-in-leach circuit to Mungana plant for gold processing
A New Gold Province Emerges
Tartana Minerals Limited (ASX – TAT) has taken a significant step forward in defining its gold assets with the release of a maiden inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Cardross gold-copper project in Far North Queensland. The estimate, prepared by Bluespoint Mining Services, places the Cardross inferred gold resource at 502,000 ounces from 50.4 million tonnes at a grade of 0.31 grams per tonne gold.
When combined with the previously reported Mountain Maid gold resource of 591,500 ounces, Tartana’s total gold resource base in the region now exceeds one million ounces. This milestone elevates the Cardross-Mountain Maid area into a notable gold province, underscoring the potential scale of mineralisation within trucking distance of Tartana’s existing Mungana processing facility.
Exploration Potential and By-Product Credits
Beyond the defined resource, Tartana has identified an exploration target ranging from 23 to 72 million tonnes at grades between 0.2 and 0.3 grams per tonne gold, equating to 220,000 to 460,000 ounces. This target is based on geophysical IP modelling and supported by some drilling data but remains conceptual with no guarantee of conversion to a resource.
Importantly, the current Cardross MRE excludes potential copper, silver, and rare earth elements due to incomplete assay data. Historical drilling has revealed high-grade intersections containing significant copper and silver, such as a notable 6 meters at 3 g/t gold, 4.8% copper, and 90 g/t silver. These metals could materially enhance project economics once fully quantified and incorporated.
Processing Innovations and Strategic Positioning
Tartana is advancing plans to augment its Mungana processing plant with a carbon-in-leach (CIL) circuit to enable gold recovery alongside its current focus on copper concentrate production. This strategic move is supported by encouraging metallurgical testwork indicating strong gold recoveries through gravity and flotation methods, with potential for ore sorting technology to significantly upgrade grades.
Testwork at the nearby Mt Wandoo deposit, which shares mineralisation characteristics with Cardross and Mountain Maid, demonstrated an eightfold increase in gold grade with 91% recovery using Tomra ore sorting technology. Tartana plans to apply similar testwork to its projects, potentially improving the economics of these large-scale, bulk-tonnage gold deposits.
Tenure and Development Outlook
The Cardross and Maid projects lie within Tartana’s granted exploration permit and mining lease applications, with native title negotiations ongoing. Both projects are strategically located within trucking distance of the Mungana plant, facilitating potential integrated development alongside Tartana’s copper and zinc resources.
While the resource estimate is classified as inferred under JORC 2012 standards, it is supported by a robust drilling database of 62 holes and comprehensive geological modelling. The company’s managing director, Dr Stephen Bartrop, highlighted the significance of this resource in underpinning future development plans and the potential for by-product credits to enhance project value.
Bottom Line?
Tartana’s expanding gold resources and processing plans position it well to unlock value, but assay updates and native title progress will be key to watch.
Questions in the middle?
- How soon can Tartana complete assays to quantify copper, silver, and rare earth credits?
- What is the timeline for native title negotiations and mining lease approvals at Cardross and Maid?
- Will ore sorting technology trials at Cardross and Mountain Maid replicate the success seen at Mt Wandoo?