• Infill drilling at the Pepper deposit within Spartan’s Dalgaranga project has intersected high-grade gold
• Drilling has also confirmed the West Winds high-grade shoot extends at depth
• Both surface and underground drilling is continuing along with development of the Juniper decline and feasibility studies

Special Report: Drilling at Spartan Resources’ Dalgaranga project has struck more high-grade gold at the Pepper deposit and confirmed the West Winds high-grade shoot extends at depth.

It puts yet more confidence in the stunning high grade gold deposit, one of the drivers behind a $4.2 billion merger with WA gold heavyweight Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS).

Infill drilling by Spartan Resources (ASX:SPR) tested the variability within the high-grade zone following positive early metallurgical composite results and extensional drilling at Pepper, returning outstanding results such as:

• 25.76m grading 23.2g/t gold from a down-hole depth of 597.66m including 7.84m at 69.06g/t gold from 644.8m (DGDH090-W1 Pepper)
• 15.42m at 19.44g/t gold from 583.7m including 5.24m at 51.71g/t from 686.02m (DGDH079-W1 Pepper); and
• 20.65m at 13.82g/t gold from 579.65m including 4m at 61.73g/t from 582.46m  (DGDH069-W2 Pepper).

Spartan has also completed over 4700m of underground drilling at West Winds that confirmed the high-grade plunge shoot extends below the current resource estimate.

Notable results from this drilling are:

• 32.57m at 2.36g/t gold from 249.11m including 9.67m at 4.32g/t from 255.7m (DUG25027)
• 32.44m at 2.06g/t gold from 271.51m including 5.27m at 6.47g/t from 271.51m (DUG25025); and
• 21.17m at 1.97g/t gold from 348.53m including 5.1m at 5.58g/t from 348.53m (DUG25033).

Other activity

Spartan is also continuing to advance development of the Juniper decline on schedule with over 1675m completed to date with the initial scope on track for completion before the end of June 2025.

Its feasibility study is also continuing with the start of negotiations on planned long-lead items. 

Confirmation of process design criteria, process flow diagrams and mechanical equipment lists for the Dalgaranga project will support the processing of high-grade underground ore.

An integrated study with Ramelius ahead of the planned August merger, has started to determine optimum use of processing infrastructure in the Mt Magnet area to deliver earlier cash flow generation from high-grade ore to be mined from Never Never and Pepper.

“Drilling activities have quickly ramped up and our 2025 exploration campaign is in full swing, with three surface rigs and one underground diamond drill rig operating on site at Dalgaranga,” executive chair Simon Lawson said.

“This reflects our commitment to deliver further growth in our high-grade resource inventory and unlock the next chapter of growth at Dalgaranga above and beyond what will be captured in the upcoming feasibility study.” 

He added the initial phase of infill drilling at Pepper to test grade variability within the high-grade core of the deposit had already delivered several spectacular intercepts. plus a significant zone of visible gold. 

Results from the first infill hole also highlighted the potential for upside in the grade which is not yet reflected in the current Pepper resource. 

“Meanwhile, the underground drilling campaign from the initial drilling positions within the Juniper Decline is also well underway and already delivering some very encouraging early results,” Lawson added.

“The new underground drilling locations have allowed us to strategically target depth extensions of the West Winds deposit, located directly beneath the existing pit to the south of Never Never and Pepper. 

“The first results confirm the presence of significant zones of high-grade mineralisation outside the current resource envelope. 

“We are confident that our underground drilling team will be able to successfully drill out extensive zones of mineralisation at both West Winds and Four Pillars, facilitating the inclusion of these areas in future mine plans to complement high-grade ore feed from Never Never and Pepper.”

Surface exploration is also underway to test other near-mine prospects such as Never Never North, Patient Wolf and Sly Fox – all of which have the potential to deliver further resource growth.

This article was developed in collaboration with Spartan 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.