Aureka has identified a series of new high-priority exploration targets at its 100 per cent-owned Irvine Gold Project in Victoria’s Stawell Corridor following the completion of an airborne magnetic geophysical survey.
The enhanced magnetic dataset has provided increased resolution of subsurface geological features, allowing the company to better define the underlying structural architecture of the project area and advance targeting opportunities.
Preliminary interpretation has highlighted several new areas of interest characterised by emerging structural complexity. These include zones within the gap between the Resolution and Adventure lodes, where recent drilling has been completed and assay results are pending.
The new targets are already being tested through Aureka’s ongoing diamond drilling program at Irvine.
Current drilling is focused on the North Resolution target, approximately 900 metres north of the Resolution lode. The program is targeting what the company describes as potential step-change mineralisation beyond the known Resolution and Adventure lodes, with the aim of demonstrating the broader prospectivity of the mineralised Stawell Corridor and building on the project’s existing 304,000-ounce JORC-compliant resource.
The North Resolution target was identified through a combination of reduced magnetism in the new survey data, geochemical anomalism and a favourable induced polarization (IP) anomaly.
Aureka managing director James Gurry said the company was already seeing benefits from the enhanced survey data.
“It is great to see these enhanced magnetics immediately put to use in our continuous diamond drilling at Irvine, and we look forward to what world-renowned expert Dr Barry Murphy can also reveal from our enhanced Irvine dataset,” Gurry said.
Aureka has engaged distinguished geologist Dr Barry Murphy to undertake further geological interpretation and targeting work on the dataset. Murphy is known for regional geological interpretations and targeting that led to the discovery of the 5.5-million-ounce Bankan Gold Project in Guinea.
The exploration update coincides with a governance change at Aureka, with Amy Monteith appointed company secretary effective immediately. Monteith succeeds Mathew Watkins, who has stepped down from the role after assisting with the transition of responsibilities.
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