The success story continues: RUA GOLD (WKN A40QYC / TSX RUA) has once again reported new high-grade gold results from its regional exploration program at the Reefton Project on New Zealand’s South Island!
The focus is on the Supreme and Caledonian targets, where recent drilling and surface work underpin the extent of the known mineralization. While Auld Creek remains the company’s key development focus, the latest data show that other areas of the Reefton Goldfield also have potential for further resource growth.
RUA GOLD particularly highlights two new drill intercepts: At Supreme, drill hole SPDDH003 returned 0.9 m at 26.9 g/t gold from 178 m depth, while at Caledonian the company reported from drill hole CLDDH005 4.0 m at 6.9 g/t gold from 265 m and, below that, 1.0 m at 11.5 g/t gold. This not only confirms individual high-grade hits, but also the continuity of broader mineralized corridors within the Reefton Goldfield.
For Supreme, an inferred NI 43-101 resource estimate of 1.46 million tonnes at 1.96 g/t gold is already available, equivalent to 92,000 ounces of gold, although the latest drill results are of course not yet included. These now indicate that the known mineralization remains open both along strike and at depth, leaving scope to expand the resource estimate.
RUA GOLD extends Supreme at depth and down plunge
The Supreme target had previously been investigated as a potential satellite open pit for the GlobeProgress mine. The latest step-out drilling by RUA GOLD now shows that the system continues significantly farther than previously modeled. According to the company, the down-plunge extension of the resource has been expanded from 250 to 400 m. At the same time, mineralization now extends to around 230 m depth, while the system remains open to the south-southwest.
The four drill holes described provide a graduated picture. SPDDH001 intersected narrow, lower-grade intervals, but confirmed continuity of the target structure. For RUA GOLD, this supports the interpretation that individual high-grade shoots develop within a broader mineralized corridor. SPDDH002 then returned 3.1 m at 3.2 g/t gold from 202 m, as well as 7.0 m at 1.2 g/t gold from 230 m. In the company’s view, this combination of higher-grade intervals and broader sulfide-bearing zones is consistent with a larger hydrothermal system.
SPDDH003 is of particular significance. The hole contains not only the high-grade interval of 0.9 m at 26.9 g/t gold, but also a broader zone with quartz veining and arsenopyrite mineralization. RUA GOLD interprets this as an indication that the high-grade gold mineralization at Supreme is not an isolated event. Rather, it appears to be linked to a larger mineralized corridor that remains open at depth. SPDDH004 ultimately intersected a low-grade shear zone with 5.4 m at 0.15 g/t gold from 168.5 m, also contributing to the overall geological picture.
In addition, soil geochemical data indicate possible extensions of the system to the north. Future work at Supreme is therefore expected to focus on strike extensions, depth potential, and parallel structures.
Caledonian confirms gold mineralization well below historic mine workings
At Caledonian, too, RUA GOLD has significantly expanded the geological model with new drilling data. The company completed 1,579 m of diamond drilling there to test extensions of mineralization below the historic mine. The program extended the known system by around 170 m beneath the old workings and confirmed gold mineralization over a strike length of 270 m. Particularly important: Mineralization was proven 186 m below the historic mining areas.
All Caledonian drill holes intersected the target structure of quartz reefs. Significant mineralization was intersected in three of the six holes. Geological logging confirmed shearing, quartz veining, and arsenopyrite-bearing mineralization. For RUA GOLD, this shows that Caledonian is not a narrow, isolated vein system, but a coherent hydrothermal target with growth potential along strike and down dip.
The individual results underscore this interpretation. CLDDH003 returned 3.0 m at 2.66 g/t gold and additionally intersected an arsenopyrite-rich mineralized halo. Such halos often occur at the margins of high-grade gold shoots. CLDDH004 intersected two separate high-grade intervals of 1.0 m at 6.17 g/t gold from 158.0 m and 1.0 m at 6.96 g/t gold from 162.0 m. The close succession of both intervals suggests a structurally complex mineralized zone rather than a single isolated vein.
The strongest hole was CLDDH005 with 4.0 m at 6.9 g/t gold from 265.0 m. Mineralization there is associated with a complex zone of metasediments, quartz veining or stockwork, graphitic alteration, and abundant arsenopyrite. According to the company, the system here also remains open at depth.
Reefton moves into focus for RUA GOLD as a district
With the new results, not only a single target but the entire Reefton Goldfield is gaining importance for RUA GOLD. The company controls more than 120,000 hectares of concessions there as the dominant landholder on New Zealand’s South Island. Historically, more than 2 million ounces of gold were produced in this district at grades between 9 and 50 g/t. In the company’s view, this supports the thesis that Reefton, beyond the core projects, offers district-scale potential for additional resource growth.
A broader regional study is already underway at Supreme to better understand the structural controls within the north–south-trending mineralized corridor. This work is intended to help plan more aggressive step-out drilling in the future, targeting large gold systems in the Reefton area. At Caledonian, the new structural data, together with aeromagnetic information, are being integrated into a 3D geological model to define the next drill targets more precisely.
This paints a clear picture for RUA GOLD: Supreme shows a growing resource with expansion potential at depth and along strike, while Caledonian confirms the continuation of gold mineralization far below historic mine workings. Taken together, these results strengthen the company’s regional exploration approach in the Reefton Goldfield and provide new starting points for the next drilling phase.
