Astral Resources has reported significant deep gold mineralisation extending well below the current Theia Deposit resource at its Mandilla Gold Project, alongside ongoing in-fill drilling to upgrade open pit resources.
- Deep diamond drilling reveals broad gold zones over 700m deep
- Visible gold observed 767m down-hole in AMRCD259
- Stage 2 in-fill RC drilling advances resource classification
- Mandilla hosts 1.74Moz gold resource with ongoing DFS progress
- Contract talks near completion for early revenue Think Big deposit
Deep Drilling Extends Theia Gold Mineralisation Beyond Resource Shell
Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) has pushed the boundaries of its flagship Theia Deposit at the Mandilla Gold Project in Western Australia, revealing significant gold mineralisation at depths far below the current resource pit shell. The latest assays from deep diamond drilling holes AMRCD259 and AMRCD264 confirm broad zones of gold over hundreds of metres, including a standout 22 metres at 0.63g/t Au from 714 metres in AMRCD259. This intercept lies nearly 400 metres beneath the $4,500/oz resource shell, underscoring the potential scale of the mineral system.
Adding further intrigue, visible gold was logged at 767 metres down-hole in AMRCD259, highlighting high-grade pockets within the broader mineralised envelope. AMRCD259 also returned a remarkable 45.53 metres at 2.15g/t Au starting from 357 metres, peppered with narrow but intense assay spikes up to 170.8g/t Au over 0.3 metres.
In-fill Drilling Advances Stage 2 Open Pit Resource Confidence
Complementing the deep drilling, a 43-hole reverse circulation (RC) in-fill program targeting Stage 2 of the Theia open pit continues to de-risk the project by improving drill density from 20m x 40m to 20m x 20m. The in-fill results include high-grade hits such as 8 metres at 10.5g/t Au from 42 metres (AMRC249) and 17.4 metres at 4.66g/t Au from 230 metres (AMRCD264), reinforcing continuity within the Indicated Resource category.
This step-change in drilling precision supports Astral’s strategy to progressively upgrade both Stage 1 and Stage 2 pits to Measured Resource classification, a critical milestone ahead of mining. The company has now completed 115 holes (11,150 metres) in the Stage 1 pit with assay results pending for the majority, while further Stage 2 drilling is planned post Stage 1 completion.
Mandilla Project Positioned for Final Investment Decision
The Mandilla Gold Project hosts a 1.74 million ounce gold resource at 1.0g/t, as per the April 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate, with a consolidated Group resource of 2.07 million ounces including Feysville and Spargoville deposits. The project’s June 2025 Pre-Feasibility Study outlined a robust standalone operation producing 95,000 ounces annually for the first 12 years with an NPV8 of $1.4 billion at A$4,250/oz gold.
Managing Director Marc Ducler emphasised that the ongoing Theia Deeps program is successfully extending mineralisation at depth, with all holes intersecting characteristic quartz veining and sulphide alteration consistent with Theia-style gold. He highlighted that contract negotiations for the Think Big early revenue opportunity are nearing completion, with key permitting milestones such as the Native Vegetation Clearing Permit and Mine Development Closure Plan submitted, advancing the project towards production readiness.
Exploration and Development Work Continues at Pace
Astral currently operates two drill rigs at Mandilla, with the deep diamond drilling program ongoing and additional holes planned to in-fill newly identified mineralisation and test extensions both up and down dip. Concurrently, the RC rig is progressing the Stage 1 in-fill program targeting a 12.5m x 12.5m drill density.
Geotechnical and metallurgical work continues to support the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), with internal reviews of capital and operating costs underway. Early preparations for an Independent Technical Expert’s Report to facilitate debt financing are also in progress. The company is finalising infrastructure locations to enable formal permitting submissions, underpinning its pathway to a Final Investment Decision.
Bottom Line?
Astral’s deep drilling success at Theia reveals a mineral system with greater depth potential, setting the stage for resource upgrades and advancing Mandilla towards production.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending assay results from the extensive Stage 1 in-fill drilling impact resource classification and mine planning?
- What are the timelines and terms expected for the Think Big deposit joint venture and early revenue generation?
- To what extent could the deep mineralisation at Theia support future underground mining beyond the open pit?