Tarcoola is located ~130km SE of the Central Gawler Mill (Challenger) and ~70km N/NW of Tunkillia, and is the site of Barton’s brownfields open pit Perseverance Mine.
The Perseverance Mine last operated during 2017 and 2018, delivering high-grade gold ore to the Central Gawler Mill. It currently holds a ~20koz Au JORC Mineral Resources @ ~2 g/t Au.
The mine is surrounded by numerous shallow, high-grade artisanal mines. During the early 1900’s the Tarcoola Goldfield was South Australia’s major hard rock gold producer, yielding some ~77koz gold bullion from ~64kt ore at an average grade of ~37.5 g/t Au.*
Barton believes that the Tarcoola Goldfield has potential to act as a source of high-grade blending feed to its existing Central Gawler Mill and planned future Tunkillia mill. Barton has therefore advanced regional Tarcoola analysis in parallel with regional development planning.
Between 2020 and 2023 Barton defined a new regional structural model under ~15km of the historical Tarcoola Goldfield. Subsequent testing of high priority targets has led to the discovery of the high grade Tolmer Silver prospect hosting grades up to 17,600 g/t Au and 83.6 g/t Au.
Tarcoola Gold project location
Perseverance Mine
Perseverance hosts current JORC Mineral Resources of ~20koz @ ~2 g/t Au, all within 60 – 80 metres of the open pit floor, presenting opportunities for simple and accessible production.*
Mineralisation extends below the currently estimated JORC Mineral Resource and into the ‘Deliverance’ zone south of the pit. These areas are not yet JORC classified and present opportunities for further drilling, Mineral Resources growth and near-mine development.
The ‘Deliverance’ target represents southern and down-dip extensions of mineralisation in the Perseverance Mine, and is ~500m long. Barton has also identified a new ‘Perseverance West’ gold zone which is sub-parallel to the ‘Deliverance’ target and laterally offset by some ~150m.
* See full JORC (2012) Mineral Resources Estimate here
Perseverance open pit mine geology and mineralisation
Perseverance JORC Mineral Resources and high grade drilling
