Brightstar brings in high-grade best, strengthening Link Zone gold ambitions

Brightstar Resources eyes off multiple high-grade intercepts for small-scale mining at the Menzies gold project.

New assays returned a fresh record for the Link Zone deposit Pic: Getty Images

• Multiple high-grade gold intercepts with near-term development potential

• All holes drilled for metallurgy and geotechnical purposes

• Massive-scale drill program continues as BTR looks toward mid-tier production

Special Report: New assays come in up to 55g/t gold as Brightstar drills away to join the ranks of mid-tier producers.

The latest assays from Brightstar Resources’ (ASX:BTR) expansive drill campaign has returned multiple high-grade gold intercepts from the Link Zone deposit eyed off for a near-term development at its Menzies gold project near Laverton in WA.

Results from the inaugural diamond campaign into the Link Zone came in with a top 12.0m at 11.90 g/t Au from 51.0m strike, which included a one-metre stretch of 55.8g/t and a new record, coming alongside more intriguing results to the tune of:

• 1.0m at 5.57 g/t Au from 45.0m
• 9.7m at 1.77 g/t Au from 34.3m
• 8.49m at 1.56 g/t Au from 14.0m
• 13.1m at 1.19g/t Au from 11.3m

The results came from within and adjacent to conceptual $3000/oz gold pit shells, targeting interpreted ore-lode positions to gain mass for metallurgy and information for small-scale mining.

Brightstar’s managing director Alex Rovira said the excellent results came in despite most of the holes being drilled for geotechnical purposes.

“Additionally, the metallurgical hole has given us valuable information for downhole lode grade variability, highlighted by a superb 6.0m at 21.08g/t Au intercept containing six individual 1.0m +5.0 g/t Au intercepts within a broader down dip intercept of 12.0m at 11.90g/t Au,” Rovira said.

“We’re particularly encouraged by the grades returned, with these results released today along with our recently completed Link Zone RC program all returning grades well above the global MRE estimate for Link Zone emphasising areas for potential open pits.”

Rovira added that geotechnical logging was completed ahead of sampling and assays, with remaining core and existing RC samples being utilised for metallurgy, now underway to feed into re-optimised pit shells and define a pathway to monetisation.

An RC drill program over the Lady Shenton system is now slated to be wrapped up in the coming fortnight, with results to be assessed and integrated into an updated resource estimate and a now-underway definitive feasibility study.

BTR’s Eastern Goldfields asset locations. Pic: Brightstar Resources

Expanding operations

While the immediate focus might be on profitable and low-risk smaller-scale mining, Brightstar envisions a much larger operation to be taken into account under the DFS as it drills away with more than 30,000m into greater Menzies.

The Link Zone aptly sits between 278koz and 43koz gold systems at Menzies, and last month’s results also returned thick intercepts from BTR’s 244,000oz Lord Byron gold deposit, boosting confidence in mining operations being eyed off for next year.

Brightstar has already produced over 8000oz from the Selkirk joint venture from Menzies, but with a future gold inventory now exceeding 3Moz across 3 West Australian gold hubs, BTR is eyeing off the opportunity to join the ranks of mid-tier producers at a time of record gold prices.

This article was developed in collaboration with Brightstar Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Brightstar brings in high-grade best, strengthening Link Zone gold ambitions