Far East Gold (ASX:FEG) Advances Expansion at Idenburg with Major Drilling Campaign

Highlights 

• 36-hole, 3,670m drilling program underway across four prospects at the Idenburg Gold Project in Papua, Indonesia. 
• Key targets include the resource-rich Bermol zone and the high-grade Sua fault system. 
• Exploration aims to expand the existing JORC-inferred 540,000 oz resource and test potential for up to 7.2 million oz gold. 

Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) has initiated a substantial drilling campaign at the Idenburg Gold Project in Papua, Indonesia, marking a strategic step toward expanding its gold resource footprint. This comprehensive 36-hole diamond drilling program spans 3,670 metres and targets four distinct prospect areas—Sua, Mafu, Bermol, and Kwaplu. Two rigs are currently operational at the Bermol prospect, where the most extensive component of the program is focused. The campaign is designed to enhance the current JORC-compliant inferred resource of 540,000 ounces at 4.1 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold and test a broader exploration target with the potential to yield up to 7.2 million ounces at 6.1 g/t. 

Drilling operations are directed toward both infill and step-out targets, with core samples also being utilised for metallurgical testing. These efforts will be instrumental in refining the geological model of the region and in determining potential scalability of the deposit. The Idenburg Contract of Work (COW) lies within a geologically complex area adjacent to the Mamberamo Fold and Thrust Belt—an environment known for hosting major gold and copper porphyry systems in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Bermol Prospect: Strike Extensions and Depth Potential 

The Bermol zone serves as the campaign’s primary focus, with 12 drill holes planned to cover a one-kilometre strike length and reach depths up to 100 metres. Historical drilling revealed a major gold-mineralised fault system defined by quartz-sulphide veins and lenses. These structures stretch across a strike of more than 600 metres and a width reaching up to 300 metres, with a shallow dip of under 25 degrees toward the west. Such features suggest the presence of multiple, stacked mineralised zones that offer significant exploration upside. 

Previous campaigns at Bermol drilled seven holes for a total of 771 metres, targeting only the central fault segment over a 400-metre section. This earlier effort did not investigate the fault system’s southern extensions or the known continuation to the north, known as North Bermol. Assays from historical holes returned notable intercepts such as 5 metres at 5.40 g/t gold (BRD001) from 16 metres and 5 metres at 4.15 g/t gold (BRD003) from 46 metres. 

Interpretations by previous geoscientific assessments, including those by IMI and Southern Geoscience Consultants, point toward five discrete quartz-hosted mineralised veins within the fault system. The new drill holes will provide crucial data to evaluate the continuity and grade distribution of these mineralised lenses. 

Recent grab samples collected from Bermol and North Bermol returned high-grade values of 19.31 g/t, 53 g/t, 16.75 g/t, 10.18 g/t, and 8.43 g/t gold, underscoring the area’s untapped potential. The drilling will assess these zones along strike and at depth, enhancing the geological understanding and expanding the known footprint. 

Sua Prospect: Extending Known High-Grade Mineralisation 

The Sua prospect, located adjacent to Bermol, will host five drill holes totalling 1,120 metres. The objective here is to extend fault-hosted gold zones previously intersected by earlier programs. Historical drill intercepts at Sua have yielded impressive grades, including 5 metres at 21.8 g/t gold from 107 metres (KSD008), 6 metres at 8.22 g/t gold from 10 metres (KSD013), and 3 metres at 9.56 g/t gold from 75 metres (KSD021). 

The new drilling seeks to define the lateral and vertical continuity of these zones and assess their contribution to the broader resource potential of the Idenburg project. The fault system at Sua has exhibited strong structural control on gold mineralisation, often concentrated in narrow, high-grade shoots—characteristics typical of mesothermal orogenic gold systems. 

Mafu Prospect: Infill Targets and Feeder Structures 

At Mafu, the program will drill seven holes totalling 500 metres. This effort focuses on infill drilling around known intercepts and potential feeder structures. Previous intercepts have included 12.6 metres at 8.01 g/t gold from 6 metres (014MD00), 8.1 metres at 7.50 g/t gold from 14.4 metres (017MD00), and 6 metres at 2.99 g/t gold from 4 metres (017MD00). 

These high-grade intercepts at shallow depths offer compelling targets for resource development. Infill drilling is intended to improve resource classification while also refining understanding of the geological controls on mineralisation at Mafu. The prospect’s proximity to Sua and Bermol adds strategic value, suggesting that these zones may be geologically connected within a larger structural corridor. 

Kwaplu Prospect: First-Ever Drill Program Targets High Anomalies 

Kwaplu represents an entirely new frontier within the Idenburg COW, with no previous drilling conducted. The upcoming drill program comprises 12 holes totalling 1,000 metres. Geochemical sampling has highlighted significant anomalies in the area, with gold-in-soil values exceeding 1,200 parts per billion (ppb) and rock chip assays reaching up to 269 g/t gold. 

Located southwest of the Sua prospect, Kwaplu’s untested status and strong surface results position it as a high-priority target. The drill program here will assess subsurface continuity and grade distribution within the anomalous zone, potentially revealing another mineralised system within the broader Idenburg corridor. 

Geological Framework and Structural Evaluation 

The Idenburg Gold Project is geologically defined as an orogenic, or mesothermal lode gold system. Such systems are known for hosting high-grade mineralisation along fault-controlled quartz-sulphide veins. Structural complexity is a defining feature of the project area, which lies in proximity to the Mamberamo Fold and Thrust Belt—a significant tectonic zone known for hosting world-class gold and copper deposits. 

To better understand the fault geometries and potential plunge directions of mineralised shoots, Murphy Geological Services has been commissioned to conduct an in-depth structural analysis of the tenement. This study will guide future targeting strategies and inform resource modelling. Structural interpretation and modelling are expected to be completed by Q2 2025. 

The current exploration program is a pivotal step toward realising the full scale and economic potential of the Idenburg Gold Project. Through methodical drilling, detailed structural modelling, and focused geochemical validation, Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) is expanding the frontiers of its resource base in a region known for high-grade gold systems.