Alto Metals identifies compelling drill targets to drive next gold exploration phase at Sandstone

Tue Nov 19 2019

Alto Metals Ltd (ASX:AME) has identified several compelling drill targets to drive the next exploration phase at Lord’s mining camp within the Sandstone Gold Project in Western Australia.

Following a review and reinterpretation of the geology and historical results at Lords, preparations are underway for a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program to test these high-priority targets.

The targets comprise depth extensions to the shallow-mind Lord Nelson and Lord Henry historical open pits, as well as potential near-surface ‘Lord’s style’ geological reinterpretations along a 3-kilometre corridor between the two pits.

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The Lord Nelson and Lord Henry deposits, which produced 207,000 ounces of gold and 48,000 ounces of gold respectively, were only mined to shallow depths of 90 metres and 50 metres.

This was primarily due to the inability of the former Sandstone process plant to treat large volumes of the harder, fresh ore found at depth.

Little to no systematic work has been undertaken to test for depth extensions to the shallow Lord’s mineralisation which are known to extend to great depths and provides an exciting opportunity for the company.

Historical intersections

Support for depth extensions at Lord Nelson, where there is a current 68,000 gold ounce mineral resource, includes intersections of 6 metres at 16.4 g/t gold from 167 metres and 5 metres at 13 g/t from 99 metres.

An intersection of 12 metres at 3.4 g/t from 66 metres was made in July 2019 and highlights the potential for strike extensions or repetitions.

At Lord Henry, where there is a 69,000-ounce deposit, intersections include 2 metres at 51.3 g/t from 70 metres and 6 metres at 10.2 g/t from 50 metres.

Recent geological interpretation of the mineralisation controls at these deposits indicate that they are hosted predominantly within granitic rocks close to the contact with ultramafic rocks and are proximal to cross-cutting, north-east trending structures.

Future steps

Alto has recently engaged external consultants to accelerate its project-wide data compilation, review, re-interpretation and management of exploration datasets ahead of finalising the design of a multi-target drill program.

The start of this follow-up drilling is subject to rig availability.

Source: https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au