Auravelle Metals Unveils New Gold Target at Sheoak East with Promising Drilling Results
Auravelle Metals has identified a promising new gold target at Sheoak East within its Nuckulla Hill Project, revealing significant shallow gold mineralisation in initial drilling. This discovery extends a large gold anomaly and sets the stage for aggressive follow-up exploration.
- New high-priority gold target identified at Sheoak East
- Initial drilling returned 4m at 1.2g/t gold from 40m depth
- Gold anomalism extends over 400m strike, open along strike
- Sheoak East part of a 3km gold anomaly from historical soil sampling
- Follow-up reverse circulation drilling planned to test extensions
Discovery at Sheoak East
Auravelle Metals Limited (ASX – AUV) has announced the identification of a new high-priority gold target at its Sheoak East prospect, part of the Nuckulla Hill Gold Project in South Australia. This follows a recent regional drilling program that returned encouraging results, including a notable intercept of 4 metres grading 1.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from a shallow depth of 40 metres.
The Sheoak East target lies within the Yarlbrinda Shear Zone, a significant structural corridor that also hosts Barton Gold Holdings’ nearby 1.6 million ounce Tunkillia Gold Project. The discovery adds a fresh dimension to Auravelle’s exploration portfolio, complementing the existing high-grade mineralisation at the adjacent Sheoak prospect.
Geological Context and Historical Data
Sheoak East is defined by a substantial gold-in-soil anomaly stretching approximately 3 kilometres, identified through historical sampling by Doray Minerals. Previous aircore drilling had revealed gold anomalism over at least 400 metres of strike, which remains open to the northeast and southwest, suggesting potential for further mineralisation along strike.
Auravelle’s recent drilling, comprising five aircore holes and one reverse circulation (RC) hole, represents the first follow-up to these historical indications. The results confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation beneath the earlier shallow drilling, with mineralised zones associated with shearing and alteration typical of hydrothermal lode-style gold deposits.
Exploration Strategy and Next Steps
Managing Director Andrew Muir emphasised the significance of the discovery, noting that Sheoak East will be a priority target for further drilling. The company plans to commence follow-up RC drilling this month to test both the depth and strike extensions of the mineralised zones at Sheoak and Sheoak East.
Additional exploration activities include ongoing soil sampling and results from other regional programs expected in the coming months. Auravelle is pursuing an aggressive exploration agenda across its South Australian projects, aiming to build on the early success and delineate a significant gold resource.
Broader Implications
The discovery at Sheoak East underscores the potential of the Nuckulla Hill Project area within the prolific Gawler Craton. The association with the Yarlbrinda Shear Zone, a known host to significant gold deposits, enhances the prospectivity of Auravelle’s tenure. While the true width of mineralisation remains to be established, the initial results provide a compelling case for continued investment in exploration.
Historical drilling and data have been compiled and verified to industry standards, providing a solid foundation for ongoing work. As Auravelle advances its drilling programs, the market will be watching closely for further assay results and resource updates that could reshape the company’s growth trajectory.
Bottom Line?
Auravelle’s Sheoak East discovery opens a new chapter in its South Australian gold exploration, with upcoming drilling poised to define its true potential.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the follow-up RC drilling reveal about the depth and continuity of mineralisation at Sheoak East?
- How does the Sheoak East target compare in scale and grade to the nearby Tunkillia Gold Project?
- What are the implications of the broader 3km gold anomaly for Auravelle’s resource potential at Nuckulla Hill?
