GoldArc Confirms Blind Gold Vein System at Whistler Zone 2
GoldArc Resources has confirmed a previously untested blind gold vein system at its Whistler Prospect within the Leonora South Gold Project, delivering promising assay results from its second round of reverse circulation drilling.
- Blind gold mineralisation confirmed at Whistler Zone 2
- Significant gold intercepts up to 4.12 g/t Au over 2m
- Pathfinder elements including silver and europium accompany gold
- Tighter drill spacing planned to define mineralisation extent
- Multi-front exploration continues alongside mine planning at Mt Stirling
Blind Gold System Uncovered at Whistler Zone 2
GoldArc Resources (ASX:GA8) has delivered a notable breakthrough at its Whistler Prospect within the Leonora South Gold Project, confirming a blind gold vein system previously undetected by historical drilling. The second round of reverse circulation (RC) drilling intersected multiple gold-bearing veins beneath surface anomalies identified in an earlier aircore program, with standout intercepts including 2 metres at 4.12 g/t gold from 70 metres in hole NIC121 and 2 metres at 2.66 g/t gold from 63 metres in NIC120.
The discovery is significant because the mineralisation shows no surface expression and had never been drill tested before, highlighting GoldArc’s systematic approach to following up shallow anomalies at depth. Managing Director Paul Stephen emphasised the importance of these results, noting they validate the company’s strategy of probing first-round aircore targets more aggressively and justify plans to tighten drill spacing around Zone 2 to better delineate the system.
Geochemical Clues and Vein Characteristics
The gold mineralisation is hosted within strongly fractionated tonalite and medium-grained tonalite, accompanied by moderate chlorite alteration, quartz veining, and pyrite. Notably, the gold is associated with a suite of pathfinder elements including silver, bismuth, cerium, tungsten, and a pronounced europium enrichment, particularly in holes NIC120 and NIC121. These geochemical signatures may provide valuable vectors for further exploration targeting.
Additional drilling in Zone 3 also returned encouraging results, with hole NIC116 intercepting 1 metre at 1.17 g/t gold and 1 metre at 0.77 g/t gold beneath earlier shallow mineralisation, suggesting a mineralised zone dipping approximately 40 degrees east. However, some holes in the program failed to reach target depths due to bogging in swelling clays, limiting data completeness.
Expanding Exploration and Mine Planning Activities
GoldArc’s ongoing multi-front exploration campaign continues alongside advancing mine planning at its Mt Stirling project, where a 6,600-metre RC drilling program is underway. The company also plans to follow up on two newly defined gold corridors at its Yttria project with RC drilling aimed at identifying higher-grade zones at depth and along strike.
The Whistler Zone 2 discovery adds a new target to GoldArc’s portfolio, complementing its existing JORC resource base of approximately 200,000 ounces across Leonora and Kookynie. The company’s systematic approach to exploration and resource growth positions it well to capitalise on the underexplored potential within its tenement holdings.
Bottom Line?
GoldArc’s confirmation of a blind gold system at Whistler Zone 2 underscores the potential for new discoveries beneath subtle surface anomalies, but the true scale and economic viability remain to be defined by upcoming drilling.
Questions in the middle?
- How extensive is the blind vein system beyond the current drill spacing at Whistler Zone 2?
- Will the pathfinder element signatures help vector towards higher-grade zones or extensions?
- How will the Whistler discovery influence GoldArc’s resource estimates and mine planning priorities?
