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Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX:BTR) is making significant strides in its gold exploration efforts, particularly at the Jasper Hills project. Recent drilling results for this ASX mining stock have bolstered confidence in the potential for high-grade gold deposits, demonstrating the project's readiness for the next stage of growth.
Promising Drilling Results
The initial outcomes from infill and extensional drilling at the 293,000-ounce Jasper Hills project have provided strong support for the conceptual Stage 1 underground mine design for the Fish deposit. This deposit previously ceased open-pit mining operations in 2012, during which Crescent Gold extracted 350,000 ounces at an average grade of 3.83 grams per tonne (g/t) from a single pit.
Recent drill intersections have shown remarkable potential, with highlights including:
- 7 meters at 9.5 g/t gold from a depth of 176 meters, featuring 1 meter at 45.3 g/t from 177 meters.
- 8 meters at 8.01 g/t gold from 180 meters, including 1 meter at 36.4 g/t from 186 meters and 4 meters at 11.9 g/t from 259 meters, with 1 meter at 37.4 g/t from 260 meters.
The scoping study for Jasper Hills has outlined a Stage 1 model aimed at producing approximately 200,000 tonnes at 4.4 g/t gold, targeting over 26,000 ounces within the first 14 months, all sourced from measured and indicated resources.
Comments from Management
Alex Rovira, managing director of Brightstar Resources, expressed optimism regarding the results from the Fish deposit. He noted, “The assays returned from Fish confirm the high-grade nature of the resource, with consistent mineralisation over several metres providing support for conventional underground mine designs and stoping widths at shallow depths.”
Additional Drilling at Cork Tree Well
In addition to the work at Jasper Hills, Brightstar has received further assays from two geotechnical diamond holes at Cork Tree Well, part of the broader Laverton gold project. Notable results include:
- 3.95 meters at 1.25 g/t gold from 50 to 55.6 meters, and 2 meters at 1.21 g/t from 100 meters in hole CTWGT015.
- 9 meters at 0.77 g/t gold from 93 meters, including 2 meters at 0.94 g/t from 69 meters in hole CTWGT016.
Rovira highlighted the importance of these results, stating, “While drilling at Jasper Hills, we also processed two Cork Tree Well geotechnical holes for gold assays, and the results are pleasing, given the focus of these holes was on obtaining geotechnical data for open pit mining.”
Next Steps for Brightstar Resources
Brightstar’s ongoing exploration at Jasper Hills and the Laverton project is just one aspect of a broader strategy aimed at assessing multiple prospects. Recent mergers and acquisitions have positioned Brightstar as a key player in the Menzies and Sandstone gold fields of Western Australia.
With the current drilling program at Jasper Hills concluding soon, the company is set to conduct ongoing geological interpretations, paving the way for resource upgrades across its portfolio. The field team is also preparing for a reverse circulation (RC) program at the Montague East project in Sandstone next month.
Rovira concluded, “We look forward to sharing ongoing results as they are received, with assays still pending from Second Fortune, Lady Shenton, Cork Tree Well, and various programs at Jasper Hills, which will provide valuable information for mineral resource estimates and the definitive feasibility study.”
Brightstar Resources continues to demonstrate its potential as a growing gold explorer and miner. With encouraging drilling results and a strategic focus on advancing its projects, the company is well-positioned for future developments in the competitive gold market.
