Pantoro has revealed initial underground development and diamond drill results from its drill drive at its Scotia deposit within the Norseman gold project in Western Australia.
Initial extensional and grade control drilling at Scotia has returned several wide, high-grade intersections from both outside and inside the current ore reserve.
Preliminary drill testing beneath the current Scotia South ore reserve returned 9.2m at 6.49 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold from 197.45m and 5.1m at 5.98 g/t from 187.6 m, approximately 70m below the current ore reserve.
Initial extensional drilling also confirmed additional wide, high-grade mineralisation below the current mine plan, which Pantoro said demonstrates potential for significant resource growth and extended mine life.
“These initial results from Scotia continue to confirm the quality of the Scotia mineralised system,” Pantoro managing director Paul Cmrlec said.
“We are particularly pleased the first of the extensional holes beneath Scotia South has returned outstanding results considering that these areas have been highlighted as a key growth target for the Norseman operation.
“We look forward to sharing further drilling updates as we continue to unlock the full potential of this high-quality asset.”
The exploration at Scotia is part of Pantoro’s growth plan, which aims to increase production to more than 200,000 ounces of gold at Norseman in the medium term.
Pantoro is currently accessing the highest grade and most continuous ore zones below the recently completed Scotia central pit, which will continue supporting the ramp-up of the Scotia underground production profile into 2025.
Production stoping in the southern part of Scotia is underway, with the mine on track for ramp-up to steady state by the end of the March 2025 quarter.
In other Pantoro news, the company has finalised a mining agreement with the Ngadju Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC for Norseman after more than three years of negotiations.
Benefits of the agreement for the Ngadju People include funding for education, cultural awareness programs and conservation efforts, community engagement commitments, local employment and support for Ngadju businesses.
Pantoro said while the majority of Norseman tenure precedes native title requirements, it pursued heritage approvals and a collaborative framework with the Ngadju People on a proactive basis.
“This agreement underscores Pantoro’s dedication to responsible and respectful operations in the Norseman region,” Cmrlec said.
“We are proud to work in partnership with the Ngadju People, ensuring that heritage preservation and community development remain central to our activities. By voluntarily entering into this agreement, Pantoro reaffirms its commitment to creating lasting value for the Ngadju community while continuing to develop the Norseman gold project.
“This is an important milestone for our company and one for which we are very proud.”
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