Astro Resources NL (ASX:ARO) has busy work programs planned to advance the Needles Gold Project in the USA as well as the Governor Broome Minerals Sands Project and the Lower Smoke Creek Diamond Project, both in Western Australia.
The primary focus in the near-term is the Needles project in gold-rich Nevada where an induced polarisation geophysical program has confirmed the presence of a chargeability anomaly as defined in the company’s broader spaced 2018 IP survey.
Raw data from the IP program is now with an Australian geophysical consultant, who will generate a 3D model that will be used for drill targeting.
Once the 3D analysis and final report are available, Astro will release the information to the market.
RC program planned for Q3
Additionally, the seismic geophysical program at Needles has been completed by Bird Seismic Services Inc and Astro will update the market as soon as the report is available.
The company has started the process of data organisation and analysis of the recently acquired drilling, geological and geophysical database from Taranis Resources Inc, which will assist with future drill targeting.
Astro has contracted a drill company for its anticipated reverse circulation (RC) program, which is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2021.
Rehabilitation of ground disturbance that occurred during the 2019 drilling program has begun with Bird Seismic coordinating the work program.
The rehabilitation is required to enable Astro to carry out further drilling programs.
Work programs
Astro plans to carry out the following activities throughout 2021 at Needles:
- Interpretation and reporting of latest IP and seismic geophysical work;
- Integration of 2020 geological mapping with geophysical results and historical drilling information;
- Planning and drilling of initial 2021 drill program consisting of up to 10 RC holes, each up to 300 metres deep;
- Interpretation of the results of the initial drilling and planning of subsequent work;
- Dependent on the results from the first drill program and subject to drill availability, completion of a second drill campaign, which will subject to a separate capital raising; and
- Geological mapping and sampling of the new claim area.
Governor Broome and Lower Smoke Creek
At the Governor Broome Minerals Sands Project in Western Australia, a bulk test-work program, which is being carried out by Allied Mineral Laboratories (AML), is expected to be completed by mid-March with a report provided to Astro by mid-April.
At Lower Smoke Creek Diamond Project the company has developed a drilling program comprising 140 holes for 700 metres to establish the extent and thickness of diamondiferous palaeoterraces near the confluence of Billy Goat and Smoke Creeks.
A pitting program has been planned to supplement and extend the diamond size and weight data that has been reported from the historical prospecting within the project area, enabling locations and depths of the pits to be established.
Results from the program are expected to be used to develop a mineralisation report.
A Program of Work application (POW) to carry out drilling is in place with the Western Australian DMPIRS, approval will be contingent on Traditional Owner arrangements with a second POW to be submitted later this month for a pitting program.
