Groundrush Ripcord Link Final Report Round 16 Geophysics and drilling collaborations 2023

Abstract

Northern Star was successfully awarded partial funding for the Goundrush-Ripcord Link Drilling program through the Northern Territory (NT) Government's Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program. Groundrush prospect was discovered in 1998 through a very successful surface geochemical lag sampling program and was mined as an open pit from 2001 until 2004, producing 611,000 ounces of gold grading at 4.3 grams per tonne of gold. In 2005, Newmont completed the open-cut mine but decided not to continue through underground mining methods, leaving behind gold resources beneath the Groundrush pit. Northern Star Resources Limited (Northern Star) and Tanami Gold NL (Tanami Gold) established a joint venture agreement for gold exploration of Central Tanami tenements, including ML 22934, in 2015. Northern Star was awarded partial funding for the Groundrush-Ripcord Link Drilling Program from the Northern Territory Government Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program during 2023. The diamond drillholes GRRCL002, GRRCL003 and GRRCL004 were designed to target a deep potential faulted offset position of the Groundrush deposit. The primary objective was to ascertain whether gold between the Groundrush and Ripcord deposits is present or offset. Reverse Circulation (RC) pre collar drilling activities commenced by Bullion Drilling from 27th June 2023 to 18th July 2023 and diamond drilling by TopDrill commenced on 18th July and was completed on 29th August 2023. The program was successful in providing valuable stratigraphic and structural information. It also enhanced the understanding of the geological framework and future exploration initiatives within the Groundrush region. There was no significant gold mineralisation however contact boundaries and fault lines have been more accurately located thereby updating the current geological model. This will allow a better understanding for future gold discovery.