Highlights:
- High-grade intersection of 2.1m @ 64.0g/t AuEq in hole ACDDH031 at Auld Creek, 120 meters below current resource.
- Vertical resource extent increased from 160m to 280m, remains open at depth.
- Antimony prices have surged over 400% to exceed US$60,000 per tonne, boosting project economics.
RUA GOLD (NZAUF, Financial) recently announced its significant drilling results from the Auld Creek project in New Zealand's Reefton Goldfield. The results revealed high-grade gold-antimony intersections at 120 meters below the current resource estimation, highlighting substantial mineralization potential.
One of the most notable findings includes a 2.1-meter intersection at 64.0g/t AuEq (5.5g/t Au and 13.1% Sb) from 310 meters depth in drill hole ACDDH031. This discovery extends the vertical resource from 160 meters to 280 meters, with the potential remaining open at depth.
Auld Creek's current inferred resource is estimated at 700,000 tonnes with 3.1g/t Au and 1.1% Sb, containing 67,000 ounces of gold and 8,000 tonnes of antimony. Surface exploration has confirmed the system spans over 2.5 kilometers, enhancing its expansion potential.
In the broader market context, antimony has become a critical mineral due to its key role in renewable energy, battery production, and defense sectors. Its price has experienced a dramatic increase from US$11,350 to over US$60,000 per tonne, driven by supply constraints from major producers like China, Russia, and Tajikistan.
RUA GOLD's strategic focus on expanding its resource base and verifying continuity at depth is expected to bolster its asset potential, especially given the critical importance of antimony on global supply chains.
