QMines has identified North Knoll as the standout target at its Mount Mackenzie project near Rockhampton after completing a 73-hole drilling campaign that has strengthened confidence in the scale and continuity of the gold system.

The company told the ASX final assay results from the 9798m program confirmed North Knoll as the principal mineralised position drilled to date, with gold mineralisation now defined over about 350m of strike and remaining open at depth.

The results have enabled QMines to begin mineral resource estimation work, initially focused on the North Knoll core area.

Main image: A groundwater monitoring bore being drilled at Mount Chalmers. From QMines ASX announcement

The latest batch of assays included deeper drilling at North Knoll West, which confirmed mineralisation extends below the shallow reverse circulation drilling completed previously.

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Among the stronger results were 24m at 1.19g/t gold and 13.3g/t silver from 71m, including 2m at 2.61g/t gold and 33.4g/t silver, and 7m at 1.89g/t gold and 34.6g/t silver from 55m.

Drilling between North Knoll and the high-grade Vein 355 zone also returned results supporting continuity of mineralisation across the broader system.

Earlier in the program, QMines reported a high-grade intercept of 16m at 19.35g/t gold from 8m, including 1m grading 108g/t gold, from Vein 355.

Exploration manager Tom Bartschi said the final results from deeper drilling provided further evidence the North Knoll system continued below much of the historic shallow drilling.

“The completion of this program provides a substantial drilling, assay and logging dataset for Mount Mackenzie. The final results from the deeper western diamond holes are important because MMRD059 and MMRD060 test the North Knoll system below much of the previous shallow RC drilling.

“These holes provide additional evidence that mineralisation extends to depth, with observed grade, width and continuity supporting the current geological interpretation of the system.

“The program wide review has integrated the drilling, assay, lithological, alteration and geochemical datasets to better understand the controls on gold mineralisation.

“The dataset is now being advanced through mineral resource estimation, with the North Knoll Core representing the most mature area based on grade, geological continuity and drill spacing.

“North Knoll West remains an important follow-up target, with the recent diamond drilling confirming mineralisation below the shallow RC envelope and providing a deeper vector for future drilling.”

QMines controls the Mount Mackenzie gold-silver project, the Mount Chalmers copper-gold project and the Develin Creek copper-zinc deposit in Central Queensland. The company has been building a portfolio of development assets around Rockhampton as it works towards becoming a copper and gold producer.

The company said further deep drilling is being planned at North Knoll West, while oriented diamond drilling is also being considered to better define the geometry of the high-grade Vein 355 shoot.