Gateway Mining has reported a significant fresh-rock gold discovery at its Cowza prospect, 85km north-east of Wiluna in Western Australia, after the first reverse-circulation drilling into the newly identified system returned 41 metres grading 2.0 grams of gold per tonne.
The intercept, from 104 metres below surface, included a higher-grade section of nine metres at 7.5 grams per tonne. Gateway said the result confirmed its interpretation of Cowza as a substantial primary gold system beneath a previously defined oxide zone. ([gatewaymining.com.au](https://www.gatewaymining.com.au/site/pdf/312e72e6-4da8-4b28-9d72-3ac4f44a719b/Platform/ListPage/Significant-HighGrade-Fresh-Rock-Gold-Discovery-at-Cowza.pdf))
The discovery hole, numbered CZRC057, was drilled directly below an earlier aircore result that returned eight metres at 1.9 grams per tonne. The relationship between the shallow and deeper intercepts is expected to help guide further drilling along the structure.
Gateway said aircore work carried out during July and August had outlined continuous oxide gold mineralisation across about 4.5km. Numerous similar aircore results along the trend have yet to be tested in fresh rock.
Gateway Mining gold discovery expands Yandal exploration target
A second reverse-circulation hole, drilled about 2km north of the main discovery, produced 52 metres at 0.3 grams per tonne from 44 metres. Although the hole was positioned too far east and ended in hanging-wall rocks rather than intersecting the main target, Gateway said the result indicated that the system remained prospective further north.
The company plans to drill west of the second hole to test the targeted mafic-intermediate contact, which it believes is an important host for gold mineralisation across the Yandal belt.
Chief executive Richard Pugh said the first effective fresh-rock test had produced the result Gateway had been seeking.
“Today’s result is the first effective test of that interpretation in fresh rock – and 41 metres at 2.0g/t Au, including a coherent high-grade core of 9 metres at 7.5g/t Au – is an outstanding validation of the team’s targeting,” he said. ([gatewaymining.com.au](https://www.gatewaymining.com.au/site/pdf/312e72e6-4da8-4b28-9d72-3ac4f44a719b/Platform/ListPage/Significant-HighGrade-Fresh-Rock-Gold-Discovery-at-Cowza.pdf))
Cowza forms part of a wider corridor that includes the 1.5km Celia South prospect to the north and the 7km Ward trend to the south. Together, the three areas represent more than 13km of mineralised strike along the same geological contact, according to Gateway.
Reverse-circulation drilling is continuing at Cowza, while diamond rigs are scheduled to arrive later in September to examine the geological controls and orientation of the higher-grade zones.
Gateway also said it had raised an additional A$8.23 million in gross proceeds by selling liquid securities over the previous week. The company said the funds would support its continuing exploration programme at Yandal. ([gatewaymining.com.au](https://www.gatewaymining.com.au/site/pdf/312e72e6-4da8-4b28-9d72-3ac4f44a719b/Platform/ListPage/Significant-HighGrade-Fresh-Rock-Gold-Discovery-at-Cowza.pdf))
