Aurora Gold Prospect Delivers Exceptional High-Grade Assays at Pearl Project
Golden Mile Resources (ASX: G88) has announced outstanding gold assay results from follow-up rock chip sampling at the Aurora Gold Prospect, part of the company's Pearl Copper Project in Arizona, USA. These results represent the highest gold grades achieved at Aurora to date, reinforcing the multi-element potential of the broader project.
Record-Breaking Gold Grades Confirm Aurora's Potential
Recent rock chip sampling at the Aurora Gold Prospect has yielded exceptional gold assays, with values reaching up to 29.3 g/t Au, accompanied by 36 g/t Ag and 1.59% Pb. This follow-up sampling program, which included 11 additional samples, surpassed the initial assays announced in January 2025.
Other impressive gold results from the sampling program include:
- 11.2 g/t Au with 20 g/t Ag
- 8.43 g/t Au with 14 g/t Ag
- 6.15 g/t Au with 17 g/t Ag and 1.04% Pb
- 6.09 g/t Au with 11 g/t Ag
These results build on previously announced high-grade assays from January 2025, which included values of 10.8 g/t Au and 8.93 g/t Au, confirming Aurora as a significant gold target within the broader Pearl Copper Project.
"Aurora continues to progress as a significant gold target based on initial sampling, initial mapping and now these exceptional rock chip results," commented Golden Mile's Managing Director Damon Dormer. "Work will continue to advance the Aurora Gold Prospect in addition to delineating further targets within the Pearl Copper Project."
Understanding Epithermal Gold Mineralisation
The high-grade gold discovery at Golden Mile Resources Ltd occurs in a geological setting typical of epithermal vein systems. These deposits form relatively near the surface, usually within 1-2 kilometers of depth, where mineral-rich hot fluids deposit valuable metals in fractures and faults.
At Aurora, mineralisation occurs in WNW to NW oriented shear-hosted epithermal veins that exhibit characteristic boxwork texture and brecciation. The pervasive iron staining visible in samples indicates the oxidation of sulphide minerals, a common feature in the weathered portions of such deposits.
Epithermal gold systems are particularly significant for investors because they:
- Often host high-grade gold mineralisation
- Can be amenable to relatively straightforward mining methods
- May represent the upper portions of larger mineralised systems at depth
The Aurora prospect's location near the faulted boundary between the Oracle Granodiorite and the Cloudburst Volcanics is particularly promising. This boundary is disrupted by later-stage crosscutting shear zones, creating structural dilations that facilitated the flow and deposition of hydrothermal, metal-rich fluids.
Strategic Location in World-Class Mining District
The Pearl Copper Project is strategically located in the San Manuel mining district of Arizona, approximately 40km northeast of Tucson. This places the project within the world-class Laramide Porphyry Copper Province, part of the prolific Southwestern North American Porphyry Copper Province – the principal copper metallogenic province of the USA, which accounted for approximately 70% of total USA copper production in 2023.
Perhaps most significantly, the project is situated immediately north of BHP's San Manuel-Kalamazoo Mine, one of the largest deposits in the Laramide Porphyry Copper Province. Despite this prime location and prolific evidence of surface mineralisation, the Project has been subject to minimal modern exploration and has never been drilled.
Arizona ranks as a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction, placing No. 7 in 2023's Investment Attractiveness Index by the Fraser Institute. The state offers world-class infrastructure including sealed roads, railways, and power transmission lines, with access to a highly skilled workforce.
Clear Path Forward for Aurora Development
Golden Mile has outlined a structured work program to advance the Aurora Prospect:
- Detailed geological mapping of mineralised structures combined with geochemical sampling
- Preparation of addendums to current approved permits with Arizona State Land Department and Bureau of Land Management for potential drilling
- Drilling of identified targets
This methodical approach aims to fully delineate the extent of gold mineralisation at Aurora and understand the structural controls that may guide future exploration efforts. Similarly, Golden Cross has expanded geochemical sampling at its Copper Hill project to better understand mineralisation patterns.
Why Investors Should Take Note of Golden Mile Resources
The high-grade gold discovery at Golden Mile Resources Ltd presents a compelling investment case based on several key factors:
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High-Grade Discovery Potential: The exceptional gold grades at Aurora (up to 29.3 g/t) demonstrate significant mineralisation that warrants further exploration.
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Strategic Location: The Pearl Project's positioning in a world-class mining district adjacent to major historical mines provides geological credibility.
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Dual-Commodity Opportunity: The project offers exposure to both gold and copper, providing investors with diversification across two sought-after metals. In a similar vein, Hammer Metals recently unveiled gold-copper discoveries in North Queensland, highlighting the value of multi-commodity projects.
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Unexplored Territory: Despite its promising location, the project has never been drilled, representing a genuine greenfield discovery opportunity in a proven mining district.
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Clear Development Pathway: The company has outlined a structured approach to advance Aurora from surface sampling to potential drilling targets.
The combination of high-grade gold assays, strategic location in a Tier 1 jurisdiction, and a clear path forward positions Golden Mile Resources as an exploration company with significant upside potential as they continue to develop the Aurora Gold Prospect and the broader Pearl Copper Project.
With each round of sampling continuing to deliver impressive results, the high-grade gold discovery at Golden Mile Resources Ltd is demonstrating that Aurora could represent a significant gold discovery within what was initially targeted as a copper project, potentially adding substantial value to the company's asset portfolio. Furthermore, other explorers like Great Boulder Resources have announced new gold targets at their Side Well project, while Matsa Resources has hit high-grade gold at its Fortitude North project.
Companies are increasingly diversifying their portfolios, as seen with Trigg Minerals acquiring high-grade antimony-gold projects, which shows the industry's growing focus on high-grade precious metal discoveries.
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