High-Grade Antimony Discovery Adds Value to Adelong Gold's Lauriston Project
Recent systematic antimony sampling at Adelong Gold Limited's (ASX:ADG) Lauriston Gold Project in Victoria has revealed significant high-grade antimony intercepts, confirming the multi-commodity potential of this strategically located project adjacent to one of Australia's premier gold operations.
First Systematic Antimony Sampling Reveals Impressive Results
The first systematic antimony sampling conducted on previous diamond drilling at the Comet discovery has yielded compelling results, confirming high-grade antimony-gold mineralisation with notable intercepts including:
- 0.89m at 2.24% Sb and 1.00 g/t Au from 177.24m, including
- 0.1m at 10.3% Sb and 3.22 g/t Au from 177.85m
- 0.1m at 4.95% Sb and 0.31 g/t Au from 177.36m
These significant antimony grades coincide with gold mineralisation, reinforcing the epizonal Au-Sb system model that shares geological similarities with the nearby Costerfield and Fosterville mines. Visual confirmation of stibnite veining in quarter core samples further validates these findings.
"The presence of these high-grade Sb zones at Comet, confirmed by sampling undertaken on previous drilling, underscores the strong potential for a multi-commodity outcome at Lauriston. Together with our high-grade gold results, this adds a valuable new dimension to the project as we plan further exploration and metallurgical work," commented Adelong Gold's Managing Director, Ian Holland.
Understanding the Lauriston Gold Project
The Adelong Gold Lauriston Project discovery spans a substantial 28,700-hectare landholding within Victoria's highly productive Bendigo Zone. Strategically positioned adjacent to Agnico Eagle's world-class Fosterville Mine, the project encompasses six exploration licences and shares key structural, geological, and mineralisation features with Fosterville.
What makes the Lauriston Project particularly promising is its epizonal gold-antimony (Au-As-Sb) systems, deposited under shallow crustal conditions at temperatures around 200°C ± 50°C—characteristics remarkably similar to Fosterville's high-grade Swan Zone. The Comet mineralisation is hosted within the Comet Anticline and associated west-dipping Comet Fault Zone, a structural setting highly analogous to the Fosterville Fault.
What is an Epizonal Au-Sb System?
Epizonal gold-antimony systems represent a specific category of mineral deposits formed relatively close to the earth's surface, typically less than 6km deep, at temperatures between 150-250°C. These systems are distinguished by several key characteristics:
- Distinct mineral assemblages: The presence of antimony minerals (primarily stibnite) alongside gold is a defining feature
- Structural controls: These deposits typically form along major fault systems that serve as pathways for mineralising fluids
- Complex quartz veining: Often features multiple generations of quartz veins with visible gold
- High-grade potential: These systems can host exceptionally high-grade gold zones
For investors, epizonal Au-Sb systems are particularly significant because they can contain extremely high-grade gold zones with strong continuity at depth. The antimony component provides additional value as a critical mineral used in flame retardants, batteries, and semiconductor technology.
Antimony: A Critical Mineral with Strategic Importance
Antimony (Sb) is classified as a critical mineral by numerous governments, including Australia and the United States. This classification reflects its importance across various strategic applications:
- Flame retardants: Antimony compounds are widely used in fire-resistant materials for electronics, textiles, and plastics
- Battery technology: Antimony is employed in lead-acid batteries and emerging liquid metal batteries
- Defence applications: Critical for military equipment, including ammunition and infrared detection devices
- Semiconductor manufacturing: Used in the production of diodes and infrared detectors
The discovery of high-grade antimony at the Adelong Gold Lauriston Project discovery enhances its economic potential beyond gold, aligning with growing global demand for critical minerals essential to technology and energy transitions.
Future Plans and Development Timeline
Adelong Gold has outlined a structured approach to build on these promising antimony results through a focused program of technical and exploration initiatives:
- Expanded antimony sampling: Systematic sampling across the Comet discovery and the broader Comet-Trojan structural corridor will target areas where stibnite veining was previously logged but not assayed
- Enhanced geological modelling: Integration of antimony data into updated geological models to refine the interpretation of the Lauriston mineralisation system
- Targeted follow-up drilling: Testing for depth and lateral extensions of the high-grade zones
To support these objectives, the company will:
- Finalise an integrated Au-Sb geological model for drill targeting
- Advance permitting and planning for the next phase of drilling
Investment Thesis: Why Adelong Gold Deserves Attention
Adelong Gold presents a compelling investment case based on several key factors:
Multi-Asset Portfolio with Near-Term Production
Adelong Gold holds a diversified portfolio including:
- Adelong Goldfield Project (NSW): Contains a 188,000oz gold resource with a staged farm-in agreement with Great Divide Mining targeting first gold production soars within 12 months
- Apollo Gold and Antimony Project (VIC): Demonstrates strong bulk-tonnage gold potential with mineralisation open at depth and along strike
- Lauriston Gold Project (VIC): Features high-grade discoveries including drill results of 8.0m at 104 g/t Au and 5.9m at 15.3 g/t Au
- Strategic Lithium Portfolio (Brazil): Provides exposure to the energy transition with promising lithium pegmatite targets
Strategic Location in Victoria's Gold Renaissance
The Adelong Gold Lauriston Project discovery is situated adjacent to Fosterville—one of the world's highest-grade and lowest-cost gold operations—positioning the company to benefit from Victoria's gold antimony discoveries renaissance. The geological similarities between Lauriston and Fosterville provide significant exploration upside.
Antimony Adds Critical Mineral Dimension
The confirmation of high-grade antimony mineralisation adds substantial value to the Lauriston Project. As a critical mineral essential for various industrial and technological applications, antimony enhances the project's economic potential beyond gold.
Why Investors Should Follow Adelong Gold
Adelong Gold offers investors exposure to both near-term gold production and high-potential exploration. The company's multi-commodity strategy—spanning gold, antimony, and lithium—provides resilience across various market cycles and exposure to both precious metals and critical minerals needed for the energy transition.
With a clear pathway to production at Adelong, high-grade results at Lauriston and Apollo, and the newly confirmed antimony potential, Adelong Gold is positioned for significant value creation. The company's strategic focus on Victoria's prolific goldfields, combined with its diversified asset portfolio, offers investors multiple avenues for growth as exploration progresses and development milestones are achieved.
As Adelong advances its systematic antimony sampling program and prepares for the next phase of drilling at the Adelong Gold Lauriston Project discovery, investors should monitor further results that could substantially enhance the project's value proposition and the company's overall investment appeal.
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