OzAurum Resources (ASX: OZM) has reported further high-grade gold results from reverse circulation drilling at its Mulgabbie North project in Western Australia, reinforcing the potential for near-term open-pit development and resource expansion.
The latest assays from the James, Ben, and Cross Fault prospects included standout intersections of 5 metres at 5.37 grams per tonne gold from 25m, 6m at 3.68g/t from 54m including 1m at 10.21g/t, and 7m at 2.46g/t from 19m.
All holes within the Stage 1 open-pit area returned strong mineralisation, confirming continuity of high-grade gold and supporting the company’s heap leach development pathway.
Stage 1 Development on Track
Drilling at the James prospect focused on validating previous intercepts within the proposed Stage 1 open pit, where each of five holes intersected consistent high-grade gold mineralisation.
Significant results included 14m at 1.23g/t gold from 22m, 13m at 1.36g/t from 28m and 10m at 1.23g/t from 21m, confirming robust grade continuity through the central pit zone.
At the Ben prospect, two holes intersecting shallow high-grade zones including 6m at 3.68g/t from 22m and 7m at 1.93g/t from 43m provided material for metallurgical testing.
The company has dispatched a diamond core sample to ALS Laboratories in Perth for column leach testing, with results to guide final design parameters for the heap leach facility.
It has grade control drilling scheduled for December as part of ongoing preparations for the Stage 1 start-up.
Cross Fault Extends Mineralised Corridor
Three holes drilled at the Cross Fault prospect confirmed extensions to the high-grade structure discovered earlier this year, located about 2km south of the existing 260,000-ounce Mulgabbie North resource.
Intercepts of 5m at 5.37g/t from 25m, 5m at 1.53g/t from 39m and 2m at 2.30g/t from 26m demonstrated both the grade and structural continuity of the mineralised zone.
The company has follow-up drilling planned on a tighter 25m by 25m pattern to define a maiden resource for Cross Fault and test extensions north and south along the Relief Shear.
Advancing Toward Production
Mulgabbie North sits on an 8km segment of the Relief Shear, a gold-bearing structure hosting multiple high-grade prospects and the nearby Carosue Dam operations.
OzAurum’s permitting and design for its staged heap leach development are progressing under the Department of Mines’ fast-track criteria.
Engineering and environmental submissions are also nearing completion.
Chief executive officer Andrew Pumphrey said the new results demonstrate the consistency of high-grade mineralisation across Mulgabbie North.
“With Stage 1 metallurgical test work underway and grade control drilling about to commence, OzAurum is well positioned to transition from explorer to developer in the near term,” he added.
