Torque Metals has delivered a stunning 11-metre intercept grading 456 g/t gold with visible nuggets at its HHH deposit, underscoring the high-grade growth potential of its Ritz Gold Project in Western Australia.
- 11m at 456 g/t gold intercept with visible nuggets at HHH
- Resource growth potential at HHH deposit and wider Ritz Project
- Multi-rig drilling underway under new RPM Strategy
- Ritz Gold Project renamed from Paris Gold Project
- Updated Mineral Resource Estimate totals 351,000 ounces at 3.1 g/t
Spectacular Visible Gold Highlights HHH Deposit Potential
Torque Metals Limited (ASX:TOR) has unveiled an extraordinary gold intercept at its 100%-owned Ritz Gold Project in Western Australia's South Kalgoorlie region. A recent Reverse Circulation (RC) drill hole, 26HRC135, returned 11.0 metres grading 456 g/t gold from 122 metres, including a jaw-dropping 1 metre at 3,625 g/t gold. The standout feature was the abundance of visible gold nuggets within the sample, described by the company’s General Manager of Exploration, Monty Graham, as the most visible gold he has ever seen from a drill sample.
This intercept is interpreted to represent a sub-vertical mineralised structure, possibly at the intersection of two mineralised zones, underscoring the geological complexity and richness of the HHH deposit. Follow-up diamond drilling just 3 metres away intersected 7.9 metres at 1.37 g/t gold, supporting the continuity of this high-grade zone along an oblique plane to the initial drill direction.
Resource Growth and Exploration Accelerate Under RPM Strategy
The HHH deposit currently hosts a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 73,000 ounces at 2.0 g/t gold, but these new results highlight significant upside potential. Additional high-grade intercepts from recent drilling include 8.0 metres at 3.79 g/t gold near the southern edge of the inferred resource and 4.0 metres at 6.90 g/t gold in northern infill drilling. Deeper drilling also intercepted 2.0 metres at 8.06 g/t gold outside the current resource boundary.
Torque’s Managing Director Craig Jones emphasised the implications: "The abundant visible gold in this shallow interval reflects the incredible endowment of the system and reinforces the high-grade growth potential we see across the Ritz Gold Project." The company is pursuing an aggressive exploration and growth campaign with two rigs currently operating, following the launch of its Rapid Path to One Million (RPM) strategy aimed at rapidly expanding resources.
Ritz Gold Project Rebranding and Broader Exploration Pipeline
In a strategic move to clarify its project architecture, Torque has renamed its flagship asset from the Paris Gold Project to the Ritz Gold Project. This change aims to distinguish the district-scale project from individual deposits such as Paris, HHH, and Observation, while encompassing an expanding pipeline of regional exploration prospects including Strauss and Catacombs.
Drilling is also ongoing at the Paris deposit, targeting potential structural repeats like the PL3 lode, with results pending. At the Observation deposit, recent RC drilling returned 1.0 metre at 10.64 g/t gold outside the current resource envelope, adding to the prospect’s high-grade potential.
Updated Mineral Resource Estimate Reflects Solid Foundation
The Ritz Gold Project’s updated global MRE stands at 351,000 ounces at 3.1 g/t gold, spread across Paris (253,000 oz), HHH (73,000 oz), and Observation (25,000 oz) deposits. The resource spans a 2.5-kilometre strike length within a 350 square kilometre greenstone belt, with strong indications of structural interlinkages between the key deposits.
The company’s use of advanced photon assay techniques, including fine milling to 75 microns for heterogeneous samples, has enhanced confidence in the high-grade assay results. Torque continues to conduct heritage surveys to access previously unexplored areas, with drilling along the Maynard’s Corridor scheduled to commence this quarter.
While the true widths of mineralisation remain uncertain and visual gold observations are preliminary pending laboratory confirmation, the scale and grade of these new intercepts provide compelling evidence for significant resource growth potential at Ritz.
Bottom Line?
Torque’s exceptional high-grade intercepts at Ritz signal a pivotal moment in its quest to rapidly expand resources, but the true continuity and extent of mineralisation await further drilling confirmation.
Questions in the middle?
- Will follow-up drilling confirm the continuity of the extraordinary high-grade structures at HHH?
- How will the RPM Strategy accelerate resource expansion across the broader Ritz Gold Project?
- What impact will heritage surveys and new exploration corridors have on unlocking regional targets?