Highlighted indications from the drilling in Zone A include 8m at 3.17g/t gold from 69m, 26m at 2.6g/t gold from 71m and 24m at 2.83g/t gold from 56m.

Cora said the results had shown good correlation to historical drilling and would be used to identify higher-grade zones that could potentially become starter pits, which the company has said could be a quick mining option. 

It also drilled a core hole to provide a composite oxide metallurgical sample for preliminary metallurgical test work at the Wardell Armstrong International facility to "assess the amenability for cyanide leach extraction of gold from oxide mineralisation".

The results of the drilling of four RC holes of 381m and one core hole were the first set of results received from the targeted drill programme involving 3,000m of AC/RC drilling and 200m of core drilling.

Cora plans to shortly release the results from drilling at the nearby Selin prospect.

CEO Dr Jon Forster said the Zone A drilling results "vindicate our strategy of focusing on oxide deposit areas that have the potential to become higher grade starter pits for a future development opportunity". 

He added the continuity of the widths, grades and near surface location of the gold mineralisation potentially indicated a "sweet spot" zone with potential for future economic extraction, especially given the deep weathering that had resulted in oxidation to depths of 90m or more.