RE: Reminder29 Mar 2026 18:11
The drill results shown in the images for the Yarrol Prospect in Queensland represent significant gold mineralization that would be considered highly promising in a modern commercial context, particularly for an open-pit mining scenario.
To determine if a grade is "commercial," geologists look at the "cutoff grade"—the minimum grade required to make a profit. Based on current 2026 industry standards in Australia, here is how those specific numbers stack up:
1. Analysis of Your Results
The grades in your image generally range from 0.80 g/t to 1.5 g/t Au (grams per tonne of gold) over wide intervals, with "sweet spots" (high-grade zones) reaching 4.37 g/t to 5.41 g/t Au.
Drill Hole
Broad Interval (Lower Grade)
High-Grade "Inclusion"
YARC24
47m @ 1.05 g/t
6m @ 4.69 g/t
YARD43
81m @ 1.34 g/t
15m @ 4.37 g/t
YARC22
43m @ 1.50 g/t
5m @ 5.41 g/t
2. Is this "Commercial"?
In short: Yes, these are typical of a viable open-pit project.
Open-Pit Mining: Most modern open-pit mines in Australia operate successfully on average grades between 0.8 g/t and 1.5 g/t. Your broad intercepts (like 81m @ 1.34 g/t) fall right in this "sweet spot."
The "Inclusions": The 4.0 g/t to 5.0 g/t zones are excellent. These "high-grade shoots" often act as the economic engine of a project, paying for the infrastructure while the larger, lower-grade ore provides the bulk volume.
Depth Factor: The cross-section shows this mineralization starting near the surface (the "Historic Resource Area"). Near-surface gold is much cheaper to mine than deep gold, making these grades even more commercially attractive.
3. Contextual Benchmarks (2026 Standards)
Grade Classification
Range (g/t Au)
Commercial Status
Low Grade
< 0.5
Often treated as waste or stockpiled for later.
Target Grade
0.8 – 1.5
Standard for profitable open-pit mines.
High Grade
1.5 – 5.0
Very attractive for open-pit; marginal for underground.
Bonanza Grade
> 5.0
Highly lucrative; the primary target for underground mining.
Summary
While a "commercial" grade depends on the current price of gold and the cost of diesel/labor, the results from Yarrol are solid exploration successes. The width of the intercepts (up to 81 meters) suggests a large volume of gold, which is often more important for commercial viability than a single tiny "nugget" grade.
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