Alice Queen has extended its maiden drilling program at the Viani gold project in Fiji after intersecting a significant alteration zone 300m below the surface.
The first two holes of the program confirmed high-grade epithermal gold mineralisation from surface to 175m, with standout results including 0.58m at 26.4 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 39.7g/t silver.
The third hole, completed 125m below the second, has intersected the same target zone, potentially expanding the known depth of the system to over 300m.
“The first two holes at Viani returned high-grade gold results of up to 26.4g/t demonstrating a high-grade epithermal gold zone from surface to a depth of 175m,” Alice Queen managing director Andrew Buxton said.
“The third hole intersected the alteration zone at a depth of 300m and while we eagerly await those assays, we are pleased to advise that we have extended our maiden program and have commenced a fourth hole to test for the first time, approximately 50m to 80m laterally, WNW from the high-grade epithermal gold intersected in drillhole 25VDD002.”
Assay results from 25VDD003 are expected within three weeks, while 25VDD004 is currently underway.
The Viani project is targeting low-sulphidation epithermal (LSE) gold mineralisation similar to major deposits like Pajingo and Cracow.
Alice Queen’s exploration strategy is now focused on identifying potential high-grade dilation zones or ore shoots along the broader vein trend.
With strong grades, a large-scale geochemical anomaly, and mineralisation open at depth and along strike, Alice Queen is steadily building momentum towards a potential economic discovery in Fiji’s prospective gold belt.
In March, the company intersected high-grade epithermal gold mineralisation at its maiden drillhole targeting the Dakuniba prospect, where low sulphidation gold mineralisation had been previously mapped over a 3km area.
Alice Queen said several zones of gold were intersected between 103.5m and 166.88m of depth, with the best results including 1.9m at 8.52g/t gold and 13.1g/t silver, including 0.7m at 17.6g/t gold.
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