Barton Gold (ASX: BGD) (OTCQB: BGDFF) has announced encouraging early assay results from its recently completed follow-up drilling at the Tolmer discovery, part of the company’s Tarcoola project in South Australia.
The company views the Tolmer discovery as a key opportunity in 2024, aligning with its broader strategy to develop its South Australian gold portfolio. Barton’s updated geological model of the historic high-grade goldfield supports the belief that the region holds significant untapped potential.
Expanding High-Grade Extensions
The follow-up drilling program comprised 17 reverse circulation (RC) holes, totaling 2,230 metres. The initiative aimed to explore potential extensions of higher-grade quartz sulphide veining while also testing an area beneath the November 2024 aircore (AC) drilling, which had detected gold but was unable to penetrate the underlying harder quartzite rock.
“We are excited to rapidly advance drilling at the Tolmer prospect, especially after identifying high-grade silver in addition to the previously reported high-grade gold intercepts,” said Barton Gold Managing Director Alexander Scanlon.
He added that further silver assay results from the November 2024 AC drilling are pending and expected to provide additional insights into the project’s mineral composition.
Shallow Silver Assays Indicate Strong Mineralization
In late January, Barton Gold confirmed the presence of a significant gold system at Tolmer through shallow high-grade gold assays. Subsequent multi-element analyses revealed that high-grade silver is also present, both within the supergene zone and in primary gold-sulphide veins. The findings indicate an association with elevated lead and zinc levels.
According to Scanlon, the assays highlight a notable correlation between gold and silver in quartz sulphide veining, mirroring the primary mineralization characteristics of Barton’s nearby Tunkillia gold project.
Key assay results from the Tolmer drilling include 3.46% lead, 10.8% zinc, and 0.12% copper. Additionally, the latest AC drilling at Tolmer has returned anomalous gold assays of up to 3.0 grams per tonne along strike.
Potential Benefits for Tolmer Mining
Scanlon noted that the confirmation of high-grade silver could enhance the economic viability of any future mining operations at Tolmer.
“Near-surface lead anomalies also appear to be a valuable targeting tool for gold and silver exploration in the Tarcoola region,” he said.
Barton Gold believes these findings could support the development of a potential blending feed source for its neighboring Tunkillia gold project, which already features a substantial silver credit. The company continues to assess the potential of Tolmer as part of its long-term resource expansion strategy in South Australia.
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