Exploration & Mining News

Galantas hints at wider potential gold district

Galantas Gold Corporation survey results identified an undrilled target which could reveal the wider potential of the gold district around Cavanacaw mine in Omagh.

Figure 1: map showing the location of key exploration targets with new geophysical results over Cornavarrow in inset (Galantas Gold)

CORNAVARROW

The Canadian company has also received permission to drill eight boreholes from three locations within the mine site, which will target a southern portion of the main Joshua vein.

In January, a gradient array induced polarisation (IP) and resistivity geophysical survey was conducted at the Cornavarrow target 5km west of the mine.

Previous exploration during the 1980s at the site by RioFinex recorded gold and base metal anomalies for float rock and stream sediments and a “small vein exposure” of Cornavarrow Burn East Showing.

In 2003, ACA Howe’s technical report stated that what was visible at Cornavarrow Burn East Showing could be the “edge of higher-grade mineralisation which is not exposed.”

Subsequent exploration by Galantas geologists recorded 3.5 g/t gold for a chipped sample of outcrop.

The company also used the IP method to define mineralisation targets in 2021 over the Elkins vein, which showed an “apparent resistivity IP anomaly” aligned north-south coinciding with known mineralisation.

An IP survey in the same year over the Pigeon Top target 1.5km west of the mine site identified a strong north-south trending resistor over 500m, coinciding with base-of-till gold anomalies. 

Galantas said that the Elkins, Pigeon Top and Cornavarrow targets lie along a 6km strike.

Chief executive Mario Stifano added: “It’s exciting to note that a strong north-south trending resistor was identified at the Cornavarrow target, with a similar signal to that generated over a gold-bearing structure close to the mine in 2021.

“Cornavarrow represents an exciting target that has never previously been drilled, and would be key in helping us to glean the wider potential of the gold district. 

“We’re also keen to continue drilling at the main Joshua vein which runs broadly parallel to and some 450 metres west of the other main Kearney vein.

“Positive drilling results from the last few years have delineated trends of dilation zones, which have potential for higher widths of mineralisation.

“Testing the down-dip potential of the dilation zones at Joshua could aid in resource expansion and ultimately add to the Omagh mine’s production capacity.”