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Santana Minerals has revealed encouraging high-grade gold intercepts from its ongoing infill drilling program at the Rise and Shine (RAS) deposit. These initial results from a 12-hole campaign are vital for enhancing the early-stage mine plan and securing a steady ore supply. This progress is key as the company moves closer to initiating open pit mining in the deposit's southern sector.
Key Points
- Santana Minerals Limited (ASX:SMI)
- High-grade gold intercepts confirmed through infill drilling at the RAS deposit
- Noteworthy intercepts include 15.5m @ 7.7g/t Au and 4.2m @ 14.5g/t Au
- Investors should monitor completion of remaining drill holes and forthcoming mine plan updates
High-Grade Gold Intercepts Validate RAS Deposit Potential
Santana Minerals reported significant high-grade gold intercepts from the first four holes of its 12-hole infill drilling campaign at the Rise and Shine (RAS) deposit. Key results include a 15.5m intercept grading 7.7g/t Au from hole MDD504 and a 4.2m intercept grading 14.5g/t Au.
These findings confirm a high-grade mineralised zone critical for the planned open pit mining operations, particularly in the southern part of the RAS deposit targeted for early mining activities.
Infill Drilling Enhances Precision of Mine Plan
The infill drilling program aims to reduce drill hole spacing at the RAS deposit, delivering more accurate data to refine the mine plan. Current efforts concentrate on the southern deposit area where high-grade mineralisation is established.
Santana Minerals is leveraging these results to ensure a reliable ore feed aligned with planned processing rates, a vital phase as open pit mining development advances.
Significant Intercepts Highlight RAS Deposit’s Mining Potential
Notable intercepts such as 15.5m at 7.7g/t Au and 4.2m at 14.5g/t Au from hole MDD504 validate the continuity of high-grade mineralisation within the upper Rise and Shine Shear Zone (RSSZ).
Further intercepts from holes MDD524A and MDD525 bolster the deposit’s potential, providing essential data for mineralisation understanding and future mining strategy.
Geological Insights Support Enhanced High-Grade Mineralisation
Geological analysis of the drilling outcomes indicates the presence of a second stacked high-grade lens at the RAS deposit, with intercepts from hole MDD504 showing similar thickness but substantially higher grades than earlier models.
This discovery will be incorporated into future geological modelling to potentially increase the deposit’s overall value.
Continued Drilling to Further Define Ore Body
The infill drilling campaign continues with eight additional holes planned to better delineate mineralisation and refine the mine plan. The focus remains on closing drill spacing in zones targeted for early ore extraction.
Completion of these holes is expected to yield detailed insights critical for developing a comprehensive mine plan.
Advancing Mine Development and Approvals
Following promising drilling results, Santana Minerals is concentrating on integrating new data to optimize ore feed consistency and processing rates for early-stage production.
Simultaneously, the company is progressing permitting and financing efforts essential for advancing the RAS deposit development, with expectations to finalize these within three months after receiving Fast-track Approval consents.
Investor Focus and Upcoming Milestones
Investors are advised to closely follow Santana Minerals as it completes its drilling program and finalizes the mine plan. The high-grade intercepts underscore significant potential for early production phases.
Key upcoming milestones include the conclusion of remaining drill holes and mine plan finalization, pivotal for the RAS deposit’s future outlook.
CEO Damian Spring Highlights Strategic Progress
Santana Minerals CEO Damian Spring emphasized the importance of the infill drilling results in enhancing confidence in the high-grade ore that will support the initial years of production.
His remarks reinforce the company’s commitment to advancing the RAS deposit towards successful early-stage mining.
Summary and Outlook
The recent high-grade gold intercepts at the RAS deposit represent a major advancement for Santana Minerals. The ongoing infill drilling is expected to provide further clarity on the deposit’s potential and support a robust mine plan development.
As drilling and development progress, investors will watch closely for updates on drill hole completions and mine plan finalization, which will be critical in shaping the deposit’s future and Santana Minerals’ growth path.
