Multicommodity explorer CZR Resources is ramping up its gold hunt at its Croydon project in Western Australia’s Pilbara goldfields. The company has commenced a ground gravity survey over multiple significant gold-in-soil anomalies targeting intrusion-related gold mineralisation analogous to DeGrey’s neighbouring 8.5 million ounce Hemi discovery.
The Croydon project covers 320 square kilometres of the Mallina Basin and contains a 40km strike of the highly prospective Tabba Tabba Shear. It is located 70km along strike and within the same structural corridor as De Grey Mining’s remarkable Hemi discovery. A recently completed scoping study suggests Hemi could churn out an average gold production figure of about 427,000 ounces per annum over a 10-year period.
CZR tested the intriguing gold-in-soil anomalies in 2020 with a drilling program at the Top Camp prospect unearthing 8m running at 10.2 grams per tonne gold from 135m along with 2m at an eye-catching 22g/t gold from only 7m.
Interestingly, prospectors in 2019 stumped up a collection of gold nuggets in the area weighing a total of 73.3g complementing other prospector reports from 2018 where gold nuggets weighing 53.4g in total were recovered from the same zone.
Whilst CZR has focused much of its recent exploration efforts on developing its 37.5 million tonne Robe Mesa iron ore project 120km southwest of Karratha, the company says improved geological understanding of the Hemi gold deposit has provided the reasoning for CZR to reset its own exploration model within the emerging Mallina Basin.
Recent developments suggest airborne magnetic surveys in the area are somewhat ineffective at detecting buried prospective gold-related intrusions due to the overlying Mallina Basin sediments. Instead, ground-based gravity measurements can distinguish contrasts between lower-density intrusions next to higher-density mafic and ultramafic rocks, which is the target setting for gold mineralisation at Croydon.
CZR has planned a total of 4,000 gravity stations over multiple geochemical targets, at a nominal 100m station by 200m line spacing. The company says data collection is expected to be completed by the end of December with 3D modelling anticipated to be finalised early next year.
The company looks set to wheel in the drill rig in the first quarter of 2023 to test high-priority targets.
CZR Resources Managing Director, Stefan Murphy said: “CZR’s Croydon project has a highly desirable address along strike from Hemi. This potential is highlighted by the strong drilling results of up to 22g/t Au achieved.”
“Croydon has a similar surface geochemical signature to Hemi and the gravity survey will focus on defining blind intrusions prospective for Hemi-style gold mineralisation in similar structural settings.”
DeGrey’s Hemi discovery has fuelled a modern-day gold rush with the likes of Greatland Gold, Kalamazoo Resources, Novo Resources Corporation and Golden State Mining swooping in to peg their own piece of the prospective Mallina Basin.
With its own stake in the Mallina Basin, along strike from Hemi and strong gold anomalism on its tenure, time will tell if CZR can light up another head turning gold deposit.
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