Orbit Resources has begun drilling at its Lewis Ponds project in New South Wales, targeting expansion of a 1.7-million-ounce gold equivalent resource after recent assays identified mineralisation outside the current deposit. The company is testing a concealed sulphide zone and the Quarry Lode, which sits beyond the resource estimate outlined in a February scoping study.

A recent hole intersected 27 metres grading 0.97 grams per tonne gold equivalent at Quarry Lode, including a 10-metre section at 1.44g/t. "The results demonstrate the potential for this area to contribute additional mineralisation and support future mining studies aimed at evaluating open pit expansion opportunities," managing director Jeneta Owens said. The company also plans surveys at the Cousin Jack prospect, where drilling in June returned two broad sulphide zones including a 1.7-metre intercept grading 13.1 per cent zinc equivalent, Murray Ward reports for SMH business (AU).