Bardoc Gold Limited (ASX: BDC) has received further significant results from recent resource definition and exploration drilling at the cornerstone 1.7Moz Aphrodite Deposit, part of its 100%-owned 3.03Moz Bardoc Gold Project near Kalgoorlie.
CEO Robert Ryan said the latest results demonstrate the significant growth potential in the under-explored Sigma Lode at Bardoc.
The drilling has successfully confirmed the shallow supergene mineralisation at the Sigma Lode, located immediately east of the planned open pit over the main Alpha and Phi Lodes, while also identifying significant widths and grades of mineralisation within the Sigma Lode at depth in fresh rock.
The Aphrodite Deposit is a multi-lode system containing 1.7Moz in Resources and 500koz in Ore Reserves.
It forms a key baseload ore feed in the later years of the current mine plan for the Bardoc Gold Project, supplementing ore from the Excelsior and Zoroastrian Deposits, 20km to the south, where the central treatment facility will be located.
The supergene mineralisation at Aphrodite is free-milling and will complement free-milling ore feed from the Zoroastrian and Excelsior Deposits.
Further work is required to follow up and expand on the fresh rock mineralisation at the Sigma Lode, which is located about 120-150m east of the main Alpha Lode.
The Sigma Lode is under-explored compared to the Alpha and Phi Lodes and has the potential to deliver similar widths and grades to Alpha Lode, which forms part of the Aphrodite underground mining Reserves.
Mr Ryan said this represents an exciting long-term growth opportunity for Bardoc Gold.
He added that the recent drilling targeting the Sigma Lode was significant in several respects, as it demonstrated the potential both to expand shallow supergene Ore Reserves and to delineate deeper extensions that could emerge as an exciting longer-term growth opportunity.
In-fill drilling at the Sigma pit has confirmed the presence of a broad high-grade mineralised zone in line with the current resource model” Mr Ryan said.
“The Sigma pit did not previously form any part of the PFS mine plan or Ore Reserve and will provide a welcome addition to our DFS, due for release in March 2021.
“Meanwhile, the high-grade intercept of 21m @ 3.94g/t presents further opportunity at depth at this emerging prospect.
“The Sigma lode is located only 400m from the proposed underground workings at Aphrodite and will form part of our future exploration plan at the project.
“Our exploration effort is currently in full flight with diamond drilling underway at the Northern Zoroastrian prospect and RC drilling about to commence at the exciting North Kanowna Star Project, where we recently reported significant shallow air-core results, and we expect strong news-flow from this campaign to continue over the coming weeks.”