The Slate Dam Gold Projects consists of 250km2, over a large section of the Bulong sequence of the Kalgoorlie Terrain. The company has methodically investigated the gold potential in sediments associated with granites that may host economic grades of gold mineralisation.

Aruma will be using a hydrothermal sediment hosted sulphidic gold model to identify gold targets, which has been used with success in the last few years by several companies to find major new deposits in the Wiluna-Norseman belt, especially at Invincible (Kambalda), Baloo and Monsoon on Lake Cowan.

Since the discovery of Invincible deposit by Gold Fields Ltd, Aruma Resources has taken the gold mineralisation model and applied it to prospects of the Kurnalpie Terrain, which has resulted in the acquisition of highly prospective ground around the region. Slate Dam was one of these areas identified for its structural complexity and desirable geology.

The area has previously been explored by Croesus Mining NL, Delta Gold, Placer and Barrick Gold. The leases were relinquished due to the gold price ($250US/oz.) at the time and low tenor anomalies were forgotten. In 2008 the lease was held by Rubicon Resources Limited and relinquished in late 2014 after surrounding joint ventures with various partners were not successful in proving up resources. Rubicon transferred their attention to other areas and were out of the area in late 2014.

Project Evaluation has identified a bottom of hole geochemical gold anomaly of considerable size, over the Slate Dam Prospect stretching 7km2 across sediments contacts within the pressure shadows of recently identified granite bodies. All the geologically needs for a gold system are in place, however were masked due to the presence of Lake Yindarlgooda over the top of the anomaly.

Aruma Resources explored the Slate Dam prospect through HyVista remote sensing and by drill testing the drill defined geochemical anomaly in 2017/2018. A total of 98 RC holes for a total of 10,400m with a high proportion of holes anomalous with 20 holes having intersections of 1g/t Au and 8 holes having >5m at >1g/t with the thickest being 24m.

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Aruma’s RC drilling significant results (Au > 1.0 g/t) with all measurements down hole.

The results were intriguing and required a holistic approach and the problem was discussed with several “experts” and the common consensus using the model was to fly it with Airborne Electromagnetic survey equipment (AEM) and undertake geochemistry over the majority of the area where applicable but not on salt lakes.

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Slate Dam Gold Project location map, with geological interpretation and gold targets. Shown in the AEM area outlined in red.

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A section of the Slate Dam anomaly showing possible extensions and zones of mineralisation.

Slate Dam AEM Survey

The AEM Survey at Slate Dam outlined several targets as well as multiple magnetic highs that will be further investigated. The area of the original Slate Dam gold anomaly was highlighted. The ranked targets T8 and T9 are on structures linked to the high grade Kanowna Belle-style Juglah mine.

The key points shown in the interpreted anomalies, as shown in the images above, are:-

  • Targets 1, 5 and 6 are on the original Slate Dam anomaly
  • Targets 10, 2 and 11 close to the original Slate Dam anomaly
  • Significant east northeast structures which are fluid pathways (tan)
  • Ring structures contain targets 4, 7 and 3 (yellow)
  • North northwest stratigraphy contains some highly magnetic possible intrusions
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AEM Survey outcome at Slate Dam (left) with the drilling results (right) with key structures shown

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Slate Dam gold target descriptions, with Targets 4 to 6 in the original gold anomaly