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Star Minerals Limited (ASX: SMS, “the Company” or “Star Minerals”) is pleased to advise results are now available for a rock chip campaign completed in late 2023 at the West Bryah Project. Samples were collected during a reconnaissance trip by experienced SMS geologists. The aim was to evaluate the Project for prospectivity for gold deposits similar to that defined by Metal Bank (ASX:MBK) at the Livingstone Project, 30km west of the Dimble and Mount Padbury Prospects. Potential for pegmatite hosted lithium mineralisation within the Yarlarweelor Gneiss was reviewed as part of the trip, with evaluation of geology exposure.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Results for 19 Rock Chips at West Bryah Project support Historical Exploration Results at Mount Padbury Prospect and potential of Dimble Prospects.
- Best Rock Chip results include:
- 30.2 g/t Au and 2.1% Cu in sample SMRK055 from Dimble East.
- 12.7 g/t Au in sample SMRK062 from Mount Padbury.
- 11.1 g/t Au in sample SMRK061 and 6.83 g/t Au in sample SMRK059 from West Dimble 4.
- 7.97 g/t Au in sample SMRK070 from Dimble West.
- Mount Padbury reconnaissance checks historical drilling by Lachlan Resources in 19971 that returned multiple significant gold intercepts in RAB and RC drilling, including down hole intercepts of:
- 12m at 5.66 g/t Au from 0m in RAB hole MPRB015, including 1m at 59.1 g/t Au from 7m;
- 19m at 2.68 g/t Au from 0m in RAB hole MPRB001, including 1m at 6.14 g/t Au from 4m and including 2m at 17.0 g/t Au from 8m;
- 9m at 1.35 g/t Au from 22m in RAB hole MPRB014;
- 4m at 2.69 g/t Au from 35m in RC hole MPRC0002, including 1m at 7.43 g/t Au from 35m;
- 2m at 2.42 g/t Au from 11m and 1m at 1.16 g/t Au from 20m in RC hole MPRC0004;
- 3m at 1.66 g/t Au from 5m in RC hole MPRC0007; and
- 1m at 8.04 g/t Au from 27m in hole MPRC0008
- Historical drilling and sampling and recent surface sampling highlight potential for West Bryah Project to host gold deposits similar to the Livingstone Project deposits 30km to the west owned by Metal Bank Limited.
Star Minerals’ Chair, Ian Stuart commented:
“Reconnaissance work at the West Bryah continues to deliver significant high-grade gold in surface samples, validating the historical dataset compiled by the Company.
Star Minerals are focussed on building understanding of the controls on gold mineralisation at the Project to get ready for drill testing of the multiple targets at the Dimble and Mount Padbury areas.
We are confident that well designed programs of modern exploration will unveil further targets at the Project, with all commodities under consideration for targeting to compliment the numerous gold Prospects already present”.
The location of the West Bryah Project is shown in the geology plan for the Bryah Basin region, Figure 1 below. The plan shows the extent of Narracoota Formation and Wilthorpe Formation present in the West Bryah Project, both geology units that host significant gold and/or VMS deposits further north and east in the Bryah Basin.
Figure 1: Location Plan for the West Bryah Project with Regional Mines and Prospects
West Bryah Gold Prospects Overview
The Dimble Prospects and Mount Padbury Prospect were the main areas of interest during the field trip. Figure 2 below shows the location of the gold prospects at the Project, plus the Yarlarweelor Gneiss complex, considered prospective for lithium mineralisation. The Dimble Prospects have historical drilling from the 1970s – 1980s, in addition to multiple generations of soil and surface sampling with digital compilation in progress for all historical data. Rock chip results and a high density of early 1900s workings demonstrate the high grade nature of the gold mineralisation at Dimble. There is good exposure of geology throughout the Dimble Area which extends for 9km strike in the east to west direction, and 2.5km in the north – south direction.
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SMS:AU
Star Minerals
Overview
Star Minerals (ASX:SMS) is a gold and copper exploration and development company focused on Western Australia, a region the Fraser Institute index has identified as a top mining jurisdiction for investment attractiveness, hosting some of the world’s most significant gold operations. Star Minerals owns three gold projects in Western Australia: its flagship project Tumblegum South, the West Bryah project and the Star of the East project.
More than 66 gold mines operate throughout Australia, including 14 of the world’s most significant gold operations. Western Australia accounts for nearly 70 percent of Australia’s total gold production.
Market analysts have indicated the global mined supply and physical demand for gold appear robust through year-end 2026. Mining projects in Western Australia are poised to capitalize on the state’s potential and benefit from the projected increase in demand.
Star Minerals’ Tumblegum South project is advancing toward production. The maiden mineral (inferred) resource estimate for the project announced in 2020 totals 600,000 tonnes, at a grade of 2.2 g/t gold. Phase 2 drilling provided excellent assay results, including 4 meters at 16.9 g/t gold and 3 meters at 14.74 g/t gold. These results confirmed Star Minerals’ previous interpretation of both geology and grade. In September 2022, Star Minerals commenced stage 3 resource-definition drilling to further define and expand on the current gold resource. Results of the completed diamond drilling activity prove gold mineralization with assays of 2.1 meters @ 20.49 g/t gold in hole BGDD002 from 26.7 meters downhole, 0.94 meters @ 42.59 g/t gold from 26.7 meters downhole and 0.4 meters @ 41.5 g/t gold in hole TDH004 from 62.7 meters downhole.
CEO Greg Almond confirmed progress at the flagship project in an interview. “Currently, we’re working on further exploration work at Tumblegum South. We’ve had drilling ongoing that’s just been completed. We’ve got environmental and engineering studies underway, and our intention is to bring that deposit into production.”
Star Minerals has two additional gold assets in Western Australia — the West Bryah project and the Star of the East project. The company is collaborating with Bryah Resources Limited (ASX:BYH) as it moves forward with exploration at the West Bryah project, initially focusing on soil sampling and rotary air blast (RAB) drilling set to commence in 2024.
The Star of the East project has promising non-JORC historical gold resources, with past production of 27,700 ounces. Star Minerals confirmed gold mineralization at the project through assay results from Phase-1 drilling which include 14 meters @ 8.3 g/t gold in hole SRC003 from 15 meters downhole, 8 meters @ 14.2 g/t gold from 18 meters downhole, 6 meters @ 4.95 g/t gold in hole SRC007 from 9 meters downhole and 4 meters @ 2.44 g/t gold in hole SRC006 from 16 meters downhole.
An experienced management team leads the company toward its goal of becoming a significant gold producer in Western Australia. Its management team and board members include experts in corporate and international finance, geology and project development. This range of experience throughout the mining industry builds confidence in the team’s ability to develop its promising assets fully.
Company Highlights
- Star Minerals is a gold and copper-focused exploration and development company with three assets in Western Australia.
- Stage 3 resource-definition drilling has commenced at the company’s flagship project, Tumblegum South.
- The maiden mineral (inferred) resource estimate for the project totals 600,000 tonnes, at a grade of 2.2 grams per ton (g/t) gold.
- Star Minerals owns two additional gold assets at varying stages of exploration moving towards development: West Bryah and Star of the East.
- The West Bryah project is a collaboration between Star Minerals and Bryah Resources, with both companies contributing to current exploration campaigns.
- The Star of the East project is a recent acquisition, and the company aims to generate JORC-compliant resource estimates using the data from the company’s 2022 reconnaissance gold drilling campaign.
- The company is led by an experienced management team with expertise throughout the mining industry, creating confidence in the team’s ability to reach its goals.
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Progressing towards gold production in Western Australia
Star Minerals: Rapidly Moving Towards Production in Western Australia
Star Minerals (ASX:SMS) advances projects in Western Australia, a region the Fraser Institute index has identified as a top mining jurisdiction for investment attractiveness, hosting some of the world’s most significant gold operations. The company owns three gold projects in Western Australia: its flagship project Tumblegum South, the West Bryah project and the recently acquired Star of the East project.
More than 66 gold mines operate throughout Australia, including 14 of the world’s most significant gold operations. Western Australia, where Star Minerals operates, accounts for nearly 70 percent of Australia’s total gold production.
Market analysts have indicated the global mined supply and physical demand for gold appears robust through year-end 2026. Mining projects in Western Australia are poised to capitalise on the state’s potential and benefit from the projected increase in demand.
Company Highlights
- Star Minerals is a gold and copper focused exploration and development mining company with three assets in Western Australia.
- Stage 3 resource-definition drilling has commenced at the company’s flagship project, Tumblegum South.
- The maiden mineral (inferred) resource estimate for the project totals 600,000 tonnes, at a grade of 2.2 g/t gold.
- Star Minerals owns two additional gold assets at varying stages of exploration moving towards development: West Bryah and Star of the East.
- The West Bryah project is a collaboration between Star Minerals and Bryah Resources, with both companies contributing to current exploration campaigns.
- The Star of the East project is a recent acquisition, and the company aims to generate JORC-compliant resource estimates quickly. Initial drilling is currently underway.
- The company is led by an experienced management team with expertise throughout the mining industry, creating confidence in the team’s ability to reach its goals.
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