Far East Gold has commenced a 36-hole, 3670m drilling program at its Idenburg gold project in Papua, Indonesia, aiming to grow its current 540,000-ounce JORC-inferred resource.
Two diamond rigs are now turning at the Bermol prospect, with drilling also planned across the Sua, Mafu and Kwaplu prospects.
The program will include infill, extension and first-time drill testing, while also providing core samples for advanced metallurgical testing.
“This marks a major step in unlocking Idenburg’s true potential,” Far East Gold chief executive officer Shane Menere said.
“With strong grades already confirmed, we’re confident this drill program can drive significant resource growth and deliver real value for our shareholders.”
Initial drilling at Sua will target fault-hosted mineralisation intersected by previous drilling, including 5m at 21.8 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 3m at 9.56g/t gold.
Mafu drilling will target potential feeder structures near historical intercepts of up to 12.6m at 8.01g/t gold. At Bermol, 12 new holes will follow up a quartz-sulphide fault zone where previous drilling intersected 5m at 5.40g/t gold.
The Kwaplu prospect will be drill tested for the first time, following gold-in-soil anomalies and surface rock samples assaying up to 269g/t gold.
The Idenburg mineralisation is interpreted as orogenic (mesothermal lode) gold, with coarse gold and high nugget values common to this style.
Far East Gold has commissioned Murphy Geological Services to complete a detailed structural study of the region, due in the second quarter of 2025.
Previous work at Bermol mapped an extensive thrust fault zone hosting mineralised quartz-sulphide veins across a 600m strike length.
Historical drilling returned high-grade intercepts and recent grab samples have returned assays up to 53g/t gold.
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