Golden Opportunity Expands at Critical Resources' Amoco Project
Critical Resources Limited (ASX:CRR) has announced significant expansion of its priority target area at the Amoco Antimony-Gold Project, with high-grade rock samples confirming the potential for a major gold-antimony system in New South Wales' fertile New England Fold Belt.
High-Grade Results Confirm Expansion of Mineralised Zone
Field mapping at the Amoco Project has revealed impressive precious and base metal mineralisation, with rock chip sampling returning exceptional results:
- Gold grades up to 15.1 g/t Au
- Antimony grades up to 0.7% Sb
- Silver grades up to 53.2 g/t Ag
- Lead values reaching 0.49% Pb
These high-grade results have expanded the known priority target area, with the discovery of a new mineralised zone approximately 350 metres south of the previously identified mineralisation trend. This new zone demonstrates significant metal zonation—a characteristic feature of major antimony-gold at Ricciardo systems in the region.
| Sample ID | Gold (g/t) | Antimony (%) | Silver (g/t) | Lead (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGR1 | 15.1 | 0.6% | 8.8 | 167 |
| AGR8 | 15.0 | 0.7% | 9.8 | 622 |
| AGR2 | 13.0 | 0.5% | 5.9 | 125.5 |
| AGR4 | 11.9 | 0.4% | 4.6 | 294 |
| AGR9C | 1.7 | 0.1% | 53.2 | 1,445 |
"The highly encouraging field work has validated the legacy data of Amoco and strengthens our geological models for the priority target area," commented Critical Resources' Chief Executive Officer, Tim Wither. "The discovery of high-grade gold-silver mineralisation approximately 350m away from the known legacy mineralisation highlights the fertility of the Amoco target area and provides confidence in our next steps."
Understanding Metal Zonation in Antimony-Gold Systems
Metal zonation refers to the systematic variation in metal content across a deposit. It is a key characteristic of many antimony-gold systems globally. At Amoco, this zonation is evidenced by distinct metal distributions:
- Northern zone: Higher gold and antimony values (up to 15.1 g/t Au and 0.7% Sb)
- Southern zone: Elevated silver and lead values (up to 53.2 g/t Ag and 0.49% Pb)
This zonation pattern is significant as it mirrors the metal distribution seen at Larvotto Resources' (ASX:LRV) nearby Hillgrove Antimony-Gold Project, where deeper drilling has intersected substantial mineralisation. The presence of similar zonation at Amoco suggests potential for a substantial mineralised system extending at depth.
Gold exploration at Critical Resources Ltd has focused on identifying these key metallogenic patterns that often indicate larger mineral systems. The company's technical team has applied this understanding to systematically expand the known mineralised footprint at Amoco.
Strategic Location in New England's Gold-Antimony Belt
The Amoco Project occupies a prime position within the highly prospective New England Fold Belt:
- Located 19km southeast of Larvotto Resources' Hillgrove Antimony-Gold operations
- Situated 14km east of Koonenberry Gold's (ASX:KNB) Enmore Gold Project
- Positioned along the same regional structural trends that control mineralisation at these established projects
Recent reinterpretation of aeromagnetic survey data has identified a network of major fault structures with a predominant NE/SW orientation. These structures are interpreted as key conduits for hydrothermal activity, analogous to those hosting high-grade gold results at Hillgrove and Enmore.
Gold exploration at Critical Resources Ltd is benefiting from this regional geological context, with the company's technical team leveraging insights from nearby deposits to refine their exploration approach at Amoco.
Upcoming Exploration Programme
Critical Resources has outlined a comprehensive exploration strategy to advance the Amoco Project:
- Regulatory Progress: Applications for maiden drill programmes at both Amoco and Mayview projects are advancing with the NSW Resources Regulator
- Land Access: Active discussions with landowners for access agreements are underway
- Soil Sampling: Plans for a detailed multi-element soil mapping programme are being finalised to define priority drill targets
- Geophysical Surveys: A high-resolution magnetic geophysics and LIDAR survey is planned to enhance structural understanding and refine drill targeting
These programmes are designed to build upon the encouraging results to date and provide the data needed to define high-confidence drill targets for the company's maiden drilling programme.
The Significance of Antimony in Gold Deposits
Antimony-gold deposits represent an important subset of orogenic gold systems. These deposits typically form along major structural corridors where hydrothermal fluids have moved through the rock, depositing valuable metals. Understanding the relationship between antimony and gold can provide valuable insights for exploration.
Key characteristics of antimony-gold systems include:
- Structural control: Mineralisation typically follows fault structures that serve as pathways for mineralising fluids
- Metal associations: Gold often occurs with antimony, arsenic, silver and base metals
- Zonation patterns: Different metals may concentrate in different parts of the system, creating recognisable patterns
- Depth potential: These systems can extend to considerable depths, with some mines operating more than 1km below surface
Gold exploration at Critical Resources Ltd has specifically targeted these antimony-gold systems, recognising their potential to host significant copper-gold porphyry potential. The company's focus on the Amoco Project represents a strategic decision to explore for this specific deposit type.
Why Investors Should Track Critical Resources
Critical Resources presents a compelling investment opportunity with significant potential upside:
- Strategic Metal Exposure: The company provides exposure to antimony (a critical metal with limited global supply) alongside precious metals gold and silver
- Proven Geological Setting: The Amoco Project is situated in the same geological environment as established operations like Hillgrove
- Multi-Project Portfolio: Beyond Amoco, Critical Resources holds multiple strategic assets:
- Halls Peak Base Metals Project with an inferred resource of 884,000t @ 3.7% Zn, 1.5% Pb, 0.4% Cu, 30g/t Ag and 0.1g/t Au
- Mavis Lake Lithium Project with an inferred resource of 8 million tonnes at 1.07% Liâ‚‚O
With a systematic exploration approach, strong technical team, and multiple catalysts on the horizon, Critical Resources is well-positioned to deliver significant value as it advances its portfolio of critical and precious metals projects.
Gold exploration at Critical Resources Ltd represents just one component of the company's broader strategy to develop a diverse portfolio of metals crucial for the energy transition and industrial applications. The recent results from Amoco demonstrate the company's ability to identify and advance new high priority gold targets with the potential to deliver substantial shareholder value. Furthermore, this approach mirrors successful gold discovery strategies employed by other companies in the region.
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