Ballymore Resources Limited (ASX:BMR) has received further confirmation of a fault-extension of the historic Duffer Lode at its Dittmer Gold Project near Proserpine in north Queensland.
Latest assay results for the Stage 3 drilling programme have all reported significant gold mineralization. Since September 2021, 18 out of 18 holes to date have encountered gold mineralization, indicating the prospective lode extension runs over 260m along strike and 200m down-dip.
It remains open along strike and down-dip and is broadening at depth.
In addition, significant intervals of veining have been reported from the next six holes awaiting assays (DTDD019 – 024) with visible gold recognised in DTDD023A and DTDD024. These intersections are located close to historic workings and may help to expedite a low-cost re-opening of the operation, pending further studies.
The 19-hole Stage 3 drill programme, comprising over 3,000m of drilling, was designed to step out from previous drilling and is expected to be completed by the end of the month with outstanding assay results expected in May.
Ballymore Technical Director, David A-Izzeddin, said the latest assays confirmed that significant gold mineralization remained within the historic mine area and extended beyond the limits of the previous mining, with significant additional mineralization now recognized in the newly discovered fault extension of the historic lode.
“The latest assay results provide further support for our plans to conduct technical studies to assess the potential to restart the Dittmer Gold Mine, historically one of Australia’s highest grade gold producers,” Mr A-Izzeddin said.
“While drilling continues, background works have commenced to progress the project towards defining a mineral resource, following which, the company proposes to undertake technical studies to assess restarting operations on the existing mining lease.
“These include mining scoping studies (based on results received), metallurgical test work of the extension lode and the high grade backfill material, a review of nearby processing options and the potential for further drill out and extension of the deposit,” he said.
The Dittmer Mine was one of the highest-grade gold mines in Australia when operating. Previous historic mining produced over 54,500oz of gold, 23,400oz of silver and 300t of copper. Dittmer is the largest historic mine in the area but the local region is scattered with numerous other historic mines with reported production grades up to 567g/t Au.
Fieldwork has demonstrated that Dittmer forms part of a larger, north-northeast trending mineralized corridor that extends for over 2km and has been crosscut by a number of west-northwest mineralized cross-structures. Ballymore is systematically investigating the potential for the region to host a large-scale system, of which the extension of the historic Dittmer mine forms the initial high-grade target.
The Dittmer Mine area had never been drill-tested prior to Ballymore acquiring the project. In 2021, historic underground mine workings at Dittmer were refurbished by Ballymore and a drilling platform was developed on level 4 to complete drilling from underground and substantially reduce drill hole depths, saving time and cost.
Drilling of Dittmer by the company has reported significant gold intersections and the two latest holes completed have reported visible gold with results pending.
For further information please visit: https://www.ballymoreresources.com/
