Great Southern hits high-grade gold below WA resource

Great Southern Mining has uncovered high-grade gold deposits at depths beneath its Mon Ami project near Laverton in Western Australia, according to recent drilling results. The findings suggest the resource could expand significantly beyond current estimates. Initial drilling campaigns have extended mineralisation by up to 70 metres vertically and 55 metres down-plunge to the north. These results align with the company's geological models predicting a north-plunging higher-grade zone beneath the existing resource, which has previously been limited to around 150 metres below the surface. The Mon Ami project currently holds a JORC-compliant resource of 1.56 million tonnes grading at 1.11 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. Recent drilling focused on deepening the resource and exploring for a potential repeat lode to the north at the Blanc Platt prospect. The first six holes from a total of 16 reverse circulation drills have revealed encouraging signs. One standout result was 16 metres of mineralisation at 3.37 g/t gold from 178 metres depth, including a 4-metre interval grading at 8.54 g/t and a 2-metre segment at 6.86 g/t. Additional intervals showed 19 metres at 1.12 g/t, 16 metres at 1.28 g/t, and 6 metres at 1.83 g/t, with a one-metre section reaching 7.28 g/t. Matthew Keane, managing director of Great Southern Mining, stated that these results confirm the presence of higher-grade zones at depth, aligning with the company's geological expectations. He noted that the initial campaign at Mon Ami has yielded promising data, suggesting further exploration opportunities. The company plans to focus on newly identified areas for future drilling, particularly at Blanc Platt, where results from 10 additional holes are awaited. Geological evidence suggests the Mon Ami area shares similarities with the nearby Ida H mine, located 8 kilometres along the same regional shear zone. The Ida H mine once produced 170,650 ounces of gold at an average grade of 22.6 g/t through underground operations. While Mon Ami may not achieve such high grades, the historical performance of Ida H offers a compelling reference point for understanding the potential of deeper mineralisation. Great Southern Mining has completed several preparatory studies, including archaeological, ethnographic, flora and fauna assessments, as well as metallurgical and waste-rock classifications. Earlier tests indicated recovery rates of approximately 95 per cent from oxide and transitional materials using standard processing methods. This bodes well for the feasibility of extracting gold from the newly discovered zones. The strategic location of Mon Ami enhances its development prospects. The project benefits from a granted mining licence and an approved haulage route connecting it to the sealed Elora-Mount Weld Road and broader district networks. Nearby, the Granny Smith processing facility is about 12 kilometres away, and multiple operational and planned gold processing plants lie within a 50-kilometre radius. This proximity allows for potential satellite feed or toll-processing arrangements, reducing the need for constructing a dedicated processing plant. Beyond Mon Ami, Great Southern Mining continues to explore other projects. Pending assay results from 38 holes drilled over 4,726 metres at the Golden Boulder discovery and ongoing reverse circulation drilling at Amy Clarke in Western Australia indicate continued activity. Additionally, diamond drilling is progressing at the Mt Dillon prospect in northern Queensland under a joint venture with Gold Fields. Gold prices have reached approximately A$6,250 per ounce, providing a timely backdrop for discoveries in established gold regions. With Mon Ami showing promise for expansion and other projects yielding positive results, Great Southern Mining is positioned to capitalise on current market conditions and advance its development plans.