Venus Minerals (ASX:VMS) began a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its 90%-owned Sandstone (Bellchambers) gold project mining lease in Western Australia, according to a Monday Australian bourse filing.

The company said planned drill holes are aimed at converting the exploration target to an inferred mineral resource, spaced on 50-meter sections with two to three holes per section targeting the mineralized zone.

Widenbar and Associates has produced an exploration target located below the existing Bellchambers mineral resource estimate of 766,000 tonnes at 1.27 grams per tonne gold for 31,400 ounces, comprising 8,800 ounces as measured, 18,100 ounces as indicated, and 4,500 ounces as inferred, the filing added.

The exploration target has been estimated at 800,000 to 950,000 tonnes at 1.75 to 2 grams per tonne gold for 45,000 to 60,000 ounces of gold, it added.