Geology and Prospectivity
The geological framework comprises an Archean gneissic basement overlain by an ultramafic to mafic greenstone succession. These rocks were subsequently deformed and metamorphosed and intruded by granitic bodies. The basement sequence is overlain by folded greenschist-facies turbiditic metasedimentary rocks, which are locally intruded by felsic units.
Fortescue Group rocks, comprising sedimentary rocks, mafic volcanic rocks and intrusive units, unconformably overlie the Mallina Sequence. Gold mineralisation is reported to be associated with faults and NE–SW-trending shear zones, as well as felsic to intermediate intrusions that cut the metasedimentary rocks of the Mallina Basin.
Prospectivity and Exploration Results
Recent exploration results across the Croydon tenements have been generated through diamond drilling, reverse circulation (RC) drilling, air core drilling and surface sampling. The latest assay results have further extended the known mineralisation at both the Top Camp and Bottom Camp prospects, which remain open along strike.
Top Camp: Phase 1 RC drilling complete — 30 holes for 5,950 m. Mineralisation now extends over 900 m of strike, with the latest phase of drilling adding 400m of strike length. Best results include 9 m @ 2.67 g/t Au from 166 m and 1 m @ 19.9 g/t Au from 21 m.
4 diamond holes have been completed at the Top Camp deposit testing the high-grade northerly plunge. Assay results are pending and data will be used to refine the geological model.
Bottom Camp: An 8-hole RC program (1,447 m) confirmed gold anomalism above 100 ppb over 700 m of strike, with high-grade hits including 1 m @ 6.37 g/t Au (26BCRC004) and 4 m @ 4.36 g/t Au (26BCRC006). Re-split sampling is underway to test for higher-grade single-metre results.
Franks Patch: First AC testing of the gold-in-soil anomaly has been completed with results pending.
Martin and Murph: Four RC holes (732 m) tested the granitoid contact zone. Martin intersected 3 m @ 0.69 g/t Au from 229 m with elevated arsenic, bismuth, molybdenum and tungsten pathfinders. The first significant gold result from the Eastern Block and reinforces the prospectivity of this area.
High-grade rock chip samples from the Martin Gossan at Croydon include:
- 7% Cu, 1.18g/t Au, 2.54% Zn, 11.4g/t Ag (26CRRK012)
- 53% Cu, 0.44g/t Au, 3.74% Zn, 23.6g/t Ag (26CRRK013)
An extensive regional air core program has been completed to test areas of cover for Hemi-style targets; assay results are pending.