• Diamond drilling at Theia deposit extended beyond target depth, encountering significant quartz veining and visible gold
• Purchased Mandilla Homestead to simplify approvals process
• High-grade RC drill results from 5B deposit at Spargoville Gold Project

Astral Resources NL (ASX: AAR) has provided an update on exploration and development activities at the 100%-owned Mandilla Gold Project, including the progress of the current six-hole (3,000m) diamond drilling (DD) program and the recent purchase of the Mandilla Homestead freehold land. The company also reported assay results for a 12-hole (1,517m) RC drilling program at the 5B Deposit, part of the 100%-owned Spargoville Gold Project. The Mandilla DD program is targeting depth extensions of up to 175m at the cornerstone Theia deposit. The first two holes were extended beyond the planned depth, encountering significant quartz veining and visible gold up to 360 metres beneath the base of the existing Theia Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) open pit shell. Astral has purchased the 21-hectare Mandilla Homestead, located less than 500 metres from the proposed process plant location, to simplify the approvals process. At the 5B Deposit within the Spargoville Gold Project, the recent RC drill program confirmed high-grade mineralisation, including intercepts such as 9m at 4.38g/t Au from 108m and 4m at 8.31g/t Au from 97m. A resource update will be required to determine further work at 5B.

The company plans to extend the Mandilla diamond drilling program with an additional three holes for a total of 5,500 metres. RC drilling is also continuing on the remainder of the Stage 1 Theia open pit to support a further increase in Measured Resources ahead of mining. Sterilisation drilling and planning for drilling at the Kamperman prospect are also underway.