ECR Minerals PLC (LSE:ECR) has reported the recovery of multiple coarse gold nuggets from prospecting activities at its Brothers Project in North Queensland, including a specimen weighing 12.3 grams, as the company prepares to undertake further testing of the area’s alluvial gold potential.
The discoveries were made across 26 prospecting sites within the Brothers Mining Licence area and surrounding creek systems, providing additional information about the distribution of gold in the project’s near-surface deposits.
ECR said the results indicate the presence of coarse gold within alluvial systems associated with the Brothers Project and support further investigation of shallow gravel deposits.
The company is focusing its near-term activities on surface gravels that it considers potentially suitable for gravity-based gold recovery methods.
Following the prospecting results, ECR intends to redeploy heavy earth-moving and processing equipment obtained through its Raglan transaction to the Maddens Flat area.
The equipment will be used to support a programme of systematic bulk sampling and trial wash runs, allowing the company to assess the characteristics of the gold-bearing material.
ECR said the use of existing equipment will enable it to undertake the planned testing without establishing an entirely new machinery fleet.
The next phase of work is intended to provide information on gold recovery rates, grade distribution and the potential scale of the alluvial deposits.
Bulk sampling will also help the company evaluate whether the shallow gravel systems could support further mining and processing activities.
In addition to assessing near-surface gold, ECR expects the prospecting and sampling results to provide geological information that may assist in identifying potential hard-rock sources of the recovered gold.
The exploration programme will also be extended westwards towards Elliot Creek and the Elliot Anomalous Area.
According to ECR, drone-based LiDAR surveys have identified evidence of extensive historical workings in these areas, although they have received limited investigation using modern exploration techniques.
The company intends to use the additional prospecting work to assess the distribution of gold across these western extensions and identify locations for further sampling.
At Brothers, ECR is also evaluating the potential significance of historical underground mine workings as part of its longer-term development strategy.
The company considers these workings a possible future development opportunity that could complement any surface operations established within the wider Maddens Flat project.
ECR holds a 50% interest in the Maddens Flat Group of Mines, which includes alluvial and hard-rock gold exploration opportunities.
While the latest prospecting has confirmed the presence of coarse gold at multiple locations, further bulk sampling and processing tests will be required to establish recoverable grades, deposit continuity and the economic viability of potential operations.
The company has not announced a mineral resource estimate or commercial production forecast for the Brothers alluvial deposits in the supplied update.
About ECR Minerals
ECR Minerals PLC (LSE:ECR) is an AIM-listed gold exploration and development company with projects in Australia, including operations and exploration interests in North Queensland.
The company holds a 50% interest in the Maddens Flat Group of Mines, where it is investigating alluvial gold deposits and potential hard-rock mineralisation.
Its Brothers Project includes historical underground workings and shallow gold-bearing gravel systems. ECR is undertaking prospecting, bulk sampling and processing trials to assess the area’s potential for future gold production.
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