Adavale Resources Triples Parkes Gold Resource to 383koz Eyeing Mine Study
Adavale Resources (ASX:ADD) has announced a significant milestone with the release of a maiden JORC resource at its London-Victoria Gold Project. This achievement comes just three months after the company acquired the Parkes Project in New South Wales, demonstrating rapid progress in resource definition.
The company has defined an independent Inferred Mineral Resource of 3.8Mt at 0.95g/t gold for 115,000 ounces, including a higher-grade component of 3.14Mt at 1.06g/t gold for 107,000 ounces at a 0.5g/t cut-off. The announcement comes at an opportune time with gold prices recently exceeding AU$5,000 per ounce.
The defined resources lie within a conceptual shallow open pit extending no more than 100 meters below the existing pit floor, presenting a potentially economical mining scenario. Notably, the London-Victoria Mine has historical production of approximately 145,000 ounces at a head grade of 1.5g/t gold from mining operations up to 1996.
Executive Chairman and CEO Allan Ritchie highlighted the strategic significance of the achievement:
"Adavale are absolutely delighted to announce the release of the maiden JORC MRE, a significant milestone for Adavale, especially within only 3 months since completing the acquisition of the Parkes Project. It comes in the context of recent all-time record high gold prices exceeding AU $5,000 per oz and represents significant value for Adavale."
What makes this resource particularly interesting is the significant upside potential that remains. Mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth, with several historical drill intercepts not included in the resource calculation due to wide spacing.
Management has identified several clear pathways to potentially expand the resource:
The company plans to develop a resource extension drilling programme aimed at maximising the opportunity for a path to future production. Additionally, an Exploration Target outlining potential additional tonnage and grade outside the current resource area is expected soon.
In gold mining projects, the "cut-off grade" represents the minimum grade of gold that must be present in a resource to be economically viable to mine. This is a critical concept for investors to understand as it directly impacts the reported resource size.
For the London-Victoria project, Adavale has reported resources at various cut-off grades:
| Cut-off Criterion (g/t Au) | Tonnes (Mt) | Gold Grade (g/t) | Contained Gold (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 | 3.79 | 0.95 | 115,388 |
| 0.5 | 3.14 | 1.06 | 106,541 |
| 1.0 | 1.18 | 1.63 | 61,548 |
The company has determined that 0.5g/t represents the optimal cut-off for their economic assessment, balancing grade quality with total resource size. Importantly, the higher gold prices we're currently experiencing mean the operational cut-off could potentially be reduced to as low as 0.25g/t, potentially increasing the economically viable resource.
The London-Victoria project is part of Adavale Resources' broader Parkes Project, which comprises four exploration tenements covering 354.15km² within the prolific gold and copper-producing Macquarie Arc portion of the Lachlan Fold Belt in New South Wales.
This region is particularly significant as it sits where the Early Ordovician-aged Junee-Narromine Volcanic Belt intersects with the crustal-scale Lachlan Transverse Zone (LTZ). This geological setting hosts Tier-1 mines including:
The strategic location with processing capacity in the region provides multiple pathways for Adavale to potentially monetise the London-Victoria Resource.
The London-Victoria deposit has significant advantages that could facilitate potential development:
Adavale Resources gold resource presents a compelling investment case for several reasons:
For investors seeking exposure to the gold sector with near-term development potential, Adavale Resources offers an appealing combination of a defined resource, clear growth potential, and strategic positioning in a world-class geological setting.
With a maiden 115,000oz gold resource at London-Victoria and multiple pathways for growth amid record gold prices, Adavale Resources presents a compelling investment opportunity. To learn more about this ASX-listed company's projects and strategic plans, visit their investor centre for the latest announcements and updates.