Historic Workings at Rushworth May Have Removed High-Grade Core, Dart Finds

Exploration Update at Rushworth

Dart Mining NL (ASX, DTM) has released interim results from its 2024 diamond drilling campaign at the Rushworth gold project in Victoria, focusing on the Phoenix Reef prospect. The drilling program has confirmed the prospectivity of the area by intersecting multiple wide zones of gold mineralisation within a stacked lode system. Notably, assays include a 12.8-metre intersection grading 1.75 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, alongside several higher-grade intervals such as 1.7 metres at 4.85 g/t Au.

Structural Insights and Geological Complexity

The exploration team’s structural interpretation highlights a complex geological setting marked by ruptured anticline folds and significant faulting at depth. These structural features create multiple stacked zones of mineralisation, which are promising targets for further exploration. The presence of a large, previously unknown underground working intersected in some drill holes suggests that historic mining may have extracted the highest-grade cores, leaving surrounding halo mineralisation intact.

Drilling beyond these workings has revealed encouraging gold grades, reinforcing the potential for a wider, high-grade zone near surface. The structural offsets and fold hinge displacements identified are reminiscent of the major goldfields in Central Victoria, such as Fosterville, Bendigo, and Ballarat, known for their prolific gold production.

Future Exploration Plans

Dart Mining’s Chairman, James Chirnside, expressed optimism about the project’s potential, noting that the 2024 drilling has provided valuable insights into the controlling structures of mineralisation. The company intends to resume drilling activities in 2026, focusing on testing the strike extensions of the mineralised zones and exploring additional targets across the Rushworth area. Furthermore, Dart is pursuing expansion of its project area through an additional exploration licence application currently under regulatory review.

These efforts align with Dart Mining’s broader strategy to build a regional presence in Victoria and Queensland, leveraging its portfolio of advanced gold projects including the Triumph Gold Project in Queensland, which boasts a declared JORC Mineral Resource of 150,000 ounces of gold.

Technical Rigor and Quality Assurance

The 2024 drilling employed diamond core techniques with detailed geological logging and photon assay analysis to mitigate the nugget effect common in coarse gold deposits. The company has implemented rigorous quality control procedures, including certified reference materials and blanks, to ensure the reliability of assay results. The data collected enhances the geological understanding of the Rushworth goldfield and supports the identification of structurally controlled gold mineralisation.