GEO Exploration Limited (AIM: GEO) has reported highly encouraging results from a trial soil geochemistry programme at its Gorge Project in Western Australia, including an exceptional peak assay of 7.74 g/t gold at the Gorge Mine target.
The programme comprised 245 soil samples across the Gorge Mine and 401 Prospect areas, with gold detected in 244 samples, or 99.6% of the total. Around 57% returned values above the approximate local background level of 0.01 g/t gold.
Five samples returned more than 1.0 g/t gold, while 27, or approximately 11%, exceeded 0.1 g/t and were classified as strongly anomalous.
The standout 7.74 g/t gold result was recorded approximately 150 metres southwest of the mapped vertical shafts at Gorge Mine, where GEO identified its strongest and most coherent gold-in-soil anomaly. The company said the anomalies remain largely open in all directions.
Results from the 401 Prospect also confirmed significant gold anomalism associated with an east-west zone of gold-bearing quartz veining, including a peak result of 0.37 g/t gold.
Multi-element analysis identified relationships between gold and several pathfinder elements, including silver, scandium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin and arsenic. GEO said the associations are consistent with both intrusion-related gold systems (IRGS) and orogenic gold systems.
Expanded exploration programme
Following the trial results, GEO has redesigned its broader soil programme to comprise approximately 1,188 sampling sites across a 5km mineralised corridor, including 12 previously identified priority targets.
The next phase will combine soil and rock-chip geochemistry with detailed geological mapping and controlled sampling of material associated with historic shafts and trenches. Results will be used to rank targets ahead of a proposed maiden drilling programme, subject to heritage and government approvals.
Gorge covers 81 square kilometres around 110km west of Paraburdoo. Historical work across the project has recorded gold mineralisation over approximately 5km of strike, including rock-chip assays up to 134 g/t gold, historical drilling of 1 metre at 35 g/t gold, and near-surface nuggets weighing more than 100 grams.
Chief executive Omar Ahmad described the 7.74 g/t soil result as outstanding and said Gorge was rapidly developing into the company’s flagship exploration project.
