The Australian-based Rua Gold Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rumble Resources Ltd, has made significant strides in its drill program, with their efforts intersecting near-surface gold at the Reefton Project located in New Zealand. The Reefton Project, set in the historically gold-rich South Island, represents a firm push into a new era of exploration and potential plentiful production.
The comprehensive drilling program carried out by Rua Gold has resulted in the defined maiden Inferred Mineral Resources at Sams Creek and the recent drilling at the Reefton Project. Encompassing an area of 860 square kilometers, the project is a continuation of Rua’s strategic decision to focus on unearthing potential mineral wealth in this region.
The initial stage of Rua Gold’s campaign was designed to confirm historical assays and gather data aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of the mineralized footprint. To enormous success, their diligent application of modern exploration techniques proved fruitful regions that historical explorations had overlooked.
The subsequent drilling at the Reefton project hit a significant gold discovery with high-grades at shallow depths. The remarkable part about the recent drilling program is besides hitting the target, it also unveiled high gold anomalies in the surface soils. This pivotal discovery promises significant upside potential given that the mineralization begins within a foot from the surface. These results stand testament to the excellent prospectivity at the Reefton Project and further indicate Rua’s top-notch exploration strategy.
Evidence from the drill intersections showed varying degrees of mineralization, with gold content that ranged from as low as 1 g/t to an exceptional high of 18.9 g/t over 1m from just 4m below the surface. This discovery highlights the potential viability of future mining operations in the area, as the near-surface location of the mineralization could facilitate relatively simple and cost-effective extraction methods.
Aside from gold, the analysis of the drill samples also unveiled an abundance of other valuable minerals. This co-existence of minerals like silver represents an added advantage for the Reefton Project as it provides an additional revenue stream for Rua Gold.
In a show of remarkable geoscientific prowess, Rua’s teams also developed a detailed 3D geological model of the Reefton Project. This model is further enhanced by high-resolution drone magnetic surveys, which help identify prospective areas that were not previously recognized.
The Reefton Project’s success represents a paradigm shift, validating the future mining prospects in the South Island’s historically rich gold belt. It allegorically put the exclamation mark on Rua Gold’s commitment to sustainable exploration and development.
To sum it up, Rua Gold’s most recent drilling program at the Reefton Project shines a proverbial beacon of hope on the potential for sustained gold mining activity in New Zealand. The near-surface mineralization discovery coupled with high-grade gold content serves to catapult the project’s viability and reinforces the significance of applying modern exploration techniques to historic gold-rich areas. By embracing cutting-edge technology and able stewardship, Rua Gold is definitively carving its place in the annals of New Zealand’s gold mining history.