Far East Gold’s Sua Prospect Now Holds Nearly 300,000 Ounces at 3.7 g/t Au
Far East Gold has reported significant assay results extending high-grade gold mineralisation at its Sua prospect in Papua, Indonesia, with a resource update imminent and further drilling planned.
- High-grade gold mineralisation extended 100m down-dip and along strike
- Inferred resource at Sua currently estimated at 296,000 ounces at 3.7 g/t Au
- SMG Consultants engaged to update JORC 2012 resource incorporating recent drilling
- Next drilling phase planned for approximately 2,350 metres targeting resource expansion
- Mineralisation remains open for further growth down-dip and along strike
Extending the Gold Zones at Sua
Far East Gold Limited (ASX:FEG) has announced encouraging assay results from its recent drilling campaign at the Sua prospect, part of the broader Idenburg Gold Project in Papua, Indonesia. The latest drillholes, numbered KSD028 to KSD035, have confirmed the extension of high-grade gold-bearing shear zones an additional 100 metres down-dip and along strike to the northeast. This extension builds on previous drilling efforts and highlights the continuity of the mineralised system.
The mineralisation at Sua is hosted within a complex network of stacked quartz-sulphide veins along a significant shear zone corridor. To date, more than 30 individual gold-bearing veins have been identified, underscoring the prospect’s potential as a substantial orogenic gold system. The recent drilling results reinforce the scale and grade continuity of this system, with notable intersections such as 10.29 g/t gold over 1.65 metres and 8.55 g/t gold over 1 metre reported from the latest holes.
Resource Update and Future Drilling
In light of these promising results, Far East Gold has engaged SMG Consultants Ltd to update the current inferred mineral resource estimate for the Idenburg project. The existing resource, based on the 2012 JORC Code, stands at approximately 540,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 4.1 g/t, with the Sua prospect contributing an inferred 296,000 ounces at 3.7 g/t Au. The updated resource will incorporate the latest drilling data from holes KSD023 to KSD035, potentially refining the resource’s size and grade profile.
Parallel to the resource update, the company is preparing for a new drilling program focused on resource expansion. This next phase will involve around 2,350 metres of targeted drilling aimed at extending mineralisation both down-dip and along strike. The mineralised zones remain open in these directions, suggesting further growth potential. Details of this upcoming program are expected to be announced shortly.
Strategic Importance and Geological Context
The Sua prospect lies within a 5-kilometre-long shear zone, part of the Idenburg project’s extensive gold corridor. The geological setting is typical of orogenic gold deposits, with mineralisation hosted in sheared quartz veins within metamorphic rocks. The continuity of high-grade zones at depth, as demonstrated by the recent drilling, is particularly encouraging for the project’s economic prospects.
Far East Gold’s management has expressed confidence in the strength and continuity of the Sua shear-hosted gold system. Non-Executive Chairman Justin Werner highlighted the open-ended nature of the mineralisation, which bodes well for ongoing resource growth through continued exploration.
Looking Ahead
With assay results from drillhole KSD036 still pending, and the resource update imminent, investors and analysts will be watching closely for further developments. The combination of high-grade intercepts, geological continuity, and planned drilling expansion positions the Sua prospect as a key asset within Far East Gold’s portfolio. Additionally, ongoing surface mapping at the nearby Kwaplu prospect may open new avenues for exploration in the region.
Bottom Line?
Far East Gold’s latest drilling success at Sua sets the stage for a resource upgrade and potential expansion, keeping the project firmly in the spotlight.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the updated resource estimate impact Far East Gold’s valuation and project economics?
- What are the metallurgical characteristics of the deeper high-grade zones and their processing implications?
- Could the upcoming drilling at Kwaplu prospect reveal additional high-grade targets adjacent to Sua?