Astute Metals Unveils Four High-Priority Gold-Silver Targets at Needles

A Fresh Look at a Historic District

Astute Metals NL (ASX, ASE) has breathed new life into the Needles Gold-Silver Project in Nevada, USA, with a comprehensive review of historical and newly acquired data revealing a large, underexplored epithermal gold-silver system. The project, covering 216 lode mining claims east of Tonopah, hosts several historical mines dating back to the early 1900s but has seen limited modern exploration.

The company’s technical team, led by Executive Director Matthew Healy, identified four high-priority drill targets, the Eastern Shaft, Arrowhead Mine, Tomahawk Mine, and Whopper Junior Prospect. These targets stand out due to their high-grade rock chip samples and geophysical anomalies, yet have either been inadequately tested or not drilled at all.

Untapped Potential Beneath the Surface

Historical drilling at Needles has predominantly been shallow, focusing on the upper alteration 'cap' of the epithermal system. ASTER satellite imagery highlights a 3km by 2km zone of kaolinite and illite alteration, typical of the upper levels of such deposits, suggesting that the most prospective mineralisation lies deeper and remains untested.

Notably, rock chip samples from the Eastern Shaft prospect have returned grades as high as 33 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 622 g/t silver, while the Arrowhead Mine’s historical workings include intersections like 3.42 meters at 2.92 g/t gold and 905 g/t silver. The Tomahawk Mine shows a 200-meter trend with assays up to 5.54 g/t gold and 406 g/t silver. Meanwhile, the Whopper Junior Prospect exhibits strong pathfinder element anomalies and elevated IP chargeability, indicating potential mineralisation beneath thin alluvial cover.

Strategic Exploration Plans

Astute Metals plans to undertake systematic soil sampling and an airborne magnetic survey to refine these targets further. These foundational datasets are critical for vectoring drilling efforts effectively. The company aims to commence drilling in the September quarter of 2025, with the exploration program designed to run alongside ongoing work at its Red Mountain Lithium Project, creating operational synergies and cost efficiencies.

Chairman Tony Leibowitz emphasised the timing of this renewed focus, noting the record gold prices and Nevada’s status as a premier jurisdiction for gold exploration. He highlighted the parallels with the AngloGold Ashanti Silicon-Merlin discovery, where drilling beneath a similar alteration cap led to a major 16 million ounce gold find, underscoring the discovery potential at Needles.

Technical Confidence Amid Data Challenges

While historical data quality varies, with some missing assay files and limited quality assurance documentation, Astute Metals has validated much of the existing information through its own sampling campaigns. The geological setting, dominated by tertiary volcanic rocks and characteristic epithermal alteration minerals such as kaolinite, illite, chalcedony, and sericite, supports the prospectivity of both high-grade vein and disseminated styles of mineralisation.

The company’s approach is methodical, combining geochemical, geophysical, and petrographic data to build a robust exploration model. This strategy aims to unlock value by targeting both the known vein systems and the conceptual bulk-tonnage mineralisation potential beneath.