HIGH-GRADE GOLD ASSAYS CONFIRM EXCEPTIONAL POTENTIAL AT LINCOLN GOLD PROJECT
Haranga Resources (ASX:HAR) has reported outstanding high-grade gold results from its technical due diligence sampling program at the Lincoln Gold Project in California. The results confirm exceptional high-grade gold mineralisation and validate the integrity of historical drilling data, positioning the company for rapid advancement of this promising asset.
STANDOUT GOLD RESULTS VALIDATE HIGH-GRADE NATURE OF DEPOSIT
The sampling program, conducted across select historic drill core and pulps from mineralised zones, has produced remarkable gold assays that reinforce the project's potential as a high-grade gold system. Among the most significant results:
- DDH-0195: 3.7m @ 108.7 g/t Au
- DDH-0198: 1.2m @ 108.0 g/t Au
- DDH-0165: 6.7m @ 11.6 g/t Au
- DDH-0197: 7.7m @ 14.0 g/t Au
- KDH-0021: 8.6m @ 10.7 g/t Au
The sampling program was primarily designed to verify the integrity of historical data, with results strongly confirming the consistency of high-grade mineralisation across the project. Perhaps most impressively, 66% of the 204 samples taken returned grades above 1.5 g/t Au, with 21% exceeding 7.0 g/t Au.
"The Mother Lode, including Lincoln-Comet and Medean deposits, are all considered high-grade gold deposits and this can often result in high levels of grade variability," noted Managing Director Peter Batten. "The results are very encouraging with an overall strong correlation between the historic drilling database grades and the recent resubmissions."
UNDERSTANDING THE COARSE GOLD PHENOMENON
A key characteristic of the Lincoln Gold Project is the presence of "coarse gold" – a feature common in many high-grade gold systems but one that requires specialised sampling and assay methods to accurately measure.
Coarse gold refers to visible, often nugget-sized gold particles distributed through the mineralised rock. While this can create challenges for consistent sampling, it also means the deposit contains substantial free gold that can be relatively straightforward to recover.
The high-grade gold results from Haranga Resources Ltd specifically tested how different assay methods perform with this type of mineralisation. The results confirmed that using a 50-gram fire assay (FA50) process achieves better consistency in grade measurements than smaller sample sizes. This information will guide Haranga's upcoming drilling program, which will utilise HQ drill core to provide a more representative sample.
| Method Comparison | Advantages |
|---|---|
| 50g Fire Assay | Larger sample size captures more representative gold content |
| HQ Diamond Core | Provides more material for analysis, reducing sampling variability |
| Screen Fire Assay | Effectively captures coarse gold particles that might be missed in standard assays |
CORRELATION ANALYSIS CONFIRMS DATA INTEGRITY
A critical aspect of the due diligence program was to test whether historical drilling data could be relied upon for future resource estimation. The comparison between original and new assays across samples showed remarkable grade stability despite the high-grade nature of the mineralisation.
The correlation analysis demonstrated that while individual samples may vary due to the coarse gold effect, the averaged intervals remain consistent within an acceptable range. This confirms there is no significant bias in the historical data and provides confidence for using it in future resource calculations.
Some of the highest individual sample results received include:
- DDH-0165: 0.91m @ 59.4 g/t Au
- DDH-0195: 0.98m @ >100 g/t Au
- DDH-0195: 0.91m @ 304.5 g/t Au
- DDH-0198: 0.55m @ 156.8 g/t Au
These exceptional high-grade gold results from Haranga Resources Ltd further validate the potential of the Lincoln Gold Project to become a significant gold producer.
UPCOMING PLANS AND CATALYSTS
With final settlement of the Lincoln Gold Project acquisition expected to complete this week, Haranga is moving quickly to capitalise on the project's potential:
-
Site Preparation Underway: Staff have been sourced and preparations are in progress for the Phase 1 diamond drill program planned for August 2025.
-
2,000-2,500m HQ Diamond Program: The drilling will commence once dewatering has dropped mine water below the 500 level and infrastructure is deemed secure.
-
Resource Estimation: Following the drilling program, the company plans to develop a JORC-compliant resource, building on the verification work completed in this sampling program.
UNDERSTANDING HIGH-GRADE GOLD DEPOSITS
High-grade gold deposits like Lincoln are particularly valuable in the current economic environment. While industry-average gold grades globally have declined to approximately 1.0-1.5 g/t Au for many operations, deposits with grades exceeding 5 g/t Au are considered high-grade and potentially very profitable.
The technical characteristics of high-grade gold deposits often include:
-
Structural Control: Gold mineralisation typically follows specific geological structures like faults, shear zones, or veins.
-
Vertical Continuity: High-grade zones often extend to significant depths, providing long-term mining potential.
-
Coarse Gold Component: Visible gold particles frequently occur, which can be effectively recovered using gravity separation methods.
-
Variable Distribution: Grade variability is common, requiring careful sampling and assay protocols to accurately estimate gold content.
The high-grade gold results from Haranga Resources Ltd at Lincoln exhibit all these characteristics, particularly the presence of exceptionally high grades across multiple drill intercepts. Similar to Haranga's impressive results, Austin Metals has identified new gold targets along strike from their own high-grade discovery, further demonstrating the potential of properly identified gold systems.
WHY INVESTORS SHOULD TAKE NOTICE
The Lincoln Gold Project represents a compelling investment opportunity for several key reasons:
-
Exceptional Grades: The confirmed high-grade nature of the gold mineralisation (with multiple intersections exceeding 10 g/t Au) positions this project among the higher-grade gold deposits globally. Furthermore, companies like Matsa Resources have also hit high-grade gold at their Fortitude North Project, highlighting the current trend of significant gold discoveries.
-
Historical Production Area: Located in California's legendary Mother Lode, the project sits within one of the world's most productive gold belts with over 50 million ounces of historical production.
-
Infrastructure Advantage: The project benefits from existing infrastructure, including underground development and processing facilities, potentially reducing capital requirements for development.
-
Near-Term Production Potential: With permits already in place and historical development work completed, the path to potential production is shorter than typical exploration projects. In the mining sector, major copper discoveries like KGL's at the Jervois Project demonstrate how quickly resources can move toward development once validated.
-
Technical De-Risking: This sampling program has significantly de-risked the geological understanding of the deposit by confirming the validity of historical data. Similarly, Hammer Metals' gold-copper discoveries in North Queensland show how technical validation can rapidly increase project value.
The due diligence sampling has demonstrated not only the exceptional grades present at the Lincoln Gold Project but also confirmed the reliability of historical data that will form the foundation for resource development. With final acquisition settlement imminent and drilling about to commence, Haranga is positioned to rapidly advance this high-grade gold opportunity in one of America's most storied gold provinces. The industry has seen similar success stories, such as Sunstone Metals' high-grade gold discovery at Bramaderos, which highlights the potential upside for companies that successfully validate exceptional mineral assets.
Want to Catch the Next High-Grade Gold Discovery Before the Market Does?
Discovery Alert's proprietary Discovery IQ model delivers instant notifications on significant mineral discoveries across the ASX, transforming complex exploration data into actionable investment opportunities. Visit our discoveries page to explore how early identification of high-grade projects like Haranga's Lincoln Gold Project can lead to substantial investment returns.
