Bridge Creek Gold Project Delivers High-Grade Drilling Results
Far Northern Resources Limited (ASX:FNR) has announced promising assay results from its Phase One drilling program at Bridge Creek in the Northern Territory, revealing significant gold mineralisation that could potentially expand the existing resource.
Strong Gold Grades Extend Mineralisation Footprint
The recently completed RC drilling program has delivered multiple high-grade gold intercepts that extend the mineralisation footprint 80 metres north of the current resource, as well as confirming historical drilling results to the south.
Standout results include:
- FNRBCRC022: 3m @ 34.71g/t Au from 12m
- FNRBCRC019: 16m @ 1.22g/t Au from 84m, including 3m @ 5.00g/t Au
- FNRBCRC015: 9m @ 1.76g/t Au from 51m, including 3m @ 4.58g/t Au
- FNRBCRC002: 69m @ 1.19g/t Au from 12m
- FNRBCRC003: 3m @ 4.10g/t Au from 45m
"We are extremely pleased with these significant Au grades, with the RC drilling results that extends the mineralisation to the north and south, this has the potential to grow the current Resource. With each set of drill results our understanding of mineralisation and geological controls is evolving," stated Far Northern Resources Managing Director Cameron Woodrow.
Project Context and Current Resource
The Bridge Creek gold project currently hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.97Mt @ 1.12g/t Au for 70,560 ounces of gold. This forms part of Far Northern Resources' total mineral resource inventory of 2.79Mt @ 1.04g/t Au for 93,060 ounces across its projects.
| Project | Classification | Tonnes (Mt) | Grade (g/t) | Ounces (koz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Stockworks (QLD) | Indicated | 0.54 | 0.97 | 16.89 |
| Empire Stockworks (QLD) | Inferred | 0.28 | 0.63 | 5.62 |
| Bridge Creek (NT) | Inferred | 1.97 | 1.12 | 70.56 |
| Total | 2.79 | 1.04 | 93.06 |
Understanding Gold Mineralisation at Bridge Creek
The Bridge Creek gold deposit represents a classical example of orogenic gold mineralisation within the Pine Creek Geosyncline. The deposit is situated approximately 125km south-southeast of Darwin and 35km southeast of Adelaide River, providing relatively good access via the Stuart Highway.
The mineralisation at Bridge Creek occurs in three distinct styles:
- Quartz-sulphide stockwork zones within carbonaceous black shales of the Upper Koolpin Formation (dominant style)
- Shear zone mineralisation at the contact between Gerowie Tuff and Zamu Dolerite
- Quartz-sulphide veins within the Zamu Dolerite
The geological setting at Bridge Creek consists of a tightly folded sequence of Lower Proterozoic rocks, laid down on a rifted granitic Archaean basement. The sequence is dominated by pelitic and psammitic sediments with minor inter-layered tuff units. The mineralisation is associated with the axis of the Howley Anticline, creating a complex structural environment that hosts multiple mineralised zones.
Gold mineralisation at Bridge Creek post-dates the regional folding events and is typically associated with sulphide minerals, particularly pyrite and arsenopyrite. This style of mineralisation is common in the Pine Creek Geosyncline, which hosts numerous significant gold deposits throughout the Northern Territory.
Strategic Exploration Approach
Far Northern Resources gold drilling results had several strategic objectives:
- Testing historically excluded drillholes to the south of the current resource
- Extending the mineralisation footprint north of the current resource
- Verifying historic drilling within the current resource area
- Testing down-dip extensions of known mineralisation
The positive results across all these objectives demonstrate the company's methodical approach to resource expansion. Particularly encouraging are the results from the northern extension drilling, with hole FNRBCRC015 returning 9m @ 1.76g/t Au from 51m, including 3m @ 4.58g/t Au, confirming the potential to expand the resource footprint beyond its current boundaries.
In the southern section, results from holes FNRBCRC021 and FNRBCRC022 (which returned 3m @ 34.71g/t Au from 12m) suggest significant potential to incorporate areas previously excluded from the resource model.
The drilling program also successfully verified historical drilling results within the current resource area, with holes such as FNRBCRC002 returning broad zones of mineralisation (69m @ 1.19g/t Au from 12m), confirming the continuity and grade distribution of the known resource.
Next Steps and Development Timeline
The company has submitted 1-metre split samples for assay, with results expected within approximately 6 weeks. These more detailed results will provide greater clarity on the grade distribution within the broader mineralised intervals reported in the composite samples.
Following analysis of these results, Far Northern Resources plans to refine targets for future drilling programs at Bridge Creek. The current drilling success suggests potential for resource expansion in multiple directions:
- To the north, where mineralisation has been extended by 80 metres
- To the south, where historical drilling results are being validated
- At depth, where initial testing has returned promising results
This systematic approach to exploration provides a solid foundation for potential resource growth and future development of the project.
Investment Potential
Far Northern Resources presents an attractive investment opportunity for several reasons:
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Resource Growth Potential: The current drilling results demonstrate clear potential to expand the existing 70,560-ounce resource at Bridge Creek.
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High-Grade Intercepts: The presence of exceptional grades (up to 34.71g/t Au) suggests potential for high-grade zones within the broader mineralised envelope.
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Systematic Exploration: The company's methodical approach to testing historical data and extending known mineralisation demonstrates sound exploration strategy.
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Strategic Location: The Bridge Creek project is approximately 125km south-southeast of Darwin and 35km southeast of Adelaide River, with good access via the Stuart Highway.
The company's total resource base of 93,060 ounces provides a solid foundation, while the current exploration success suggests significant potential for growth. The upcoming 1-metre split assay results could provide more detailed information on the grade distribution and potential resource implications.
Understanding Orogenic Gold Deposits
Orogenic gold deposits, like those found at Bridge Creek, are one of the most important sources of gold globally. These deposits form during mountain-building events (orogenies) and are typically associated with major structural features such as faults and shear zones.
Key characteristics of orogenic gold deposits include:
- Structural Control: Mineralisation is strongly controlled by faults, shear zones, and folds
- Metamorphic Setting: Typically found in metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks
- Quartz-Sulphide Association: Gold is commonly associated with quartz veins and sulphide minerals
- Vertical Continuity: These deposits often extend to significant depths
- Variable Grades: Grades can range from 1-30 g/t Au, with both high-grade zones and broader lower-grade envelopes
The Pine Creek Geosyncline is well-known for hosting numerous orogenic gold deposits, making it a productive geological province for gold exploration. The structural complexity of the Bridge Creek deposit, with its multiple styles of mineralisation, creates opportunities for discovering additional resources through systematic exploration.
The high-grade intercept of 34.71g/t Au in hole FNRBCRC022 is characteristic of the grade variability often seen in orogenic gold systems, where bonanza zones can occur within broader mineralised envelopes. These high-grade zones can significantly enhance the economic potential of a deposit, particularly if they demonstrate continuity.
Far Northern Resources' exploration approach at Bridge Creek, focusing on both resource verification and extension, is well-suited to this style of mineralisation where understanding the structural controls is crucial for effective targeting.
Ready to Invest in Northern Territory's Gold Potential?
Discover how Far Northern Resources is expanding its gold footprint at Bridge Creek with impressive high-grade results of up to 34.71g/t Au. To learn more about FNR's strategic exploration approach and investment opportunities in this emerging gold project, visit Far Northern Resources' website today for the latest company presentations and project updates.
