Key Target 01
Aurum Prime: Core Exploration Zone
Overview
Aurum Prime is the core diatreme–epithermal system and primary discovery area of the Vatu Aurum Project, comprising the Namalau–Loma–Buca upflow trends and the high-grade Qiriyaga Complex.
Epithermal Upwelling Zones: Namalau, Loma & Buca Trends
- System Type
- Low-sulphidation epithermal hosted in structurally aligned volcanic corridors
- Location
- ~5 km² corridor within Aurum Prime
Key Features
- Multiple preserved silica sinters, crustiform and chalcedonic quartz veins
- Volatile-rich pathfinder suite (Se, Hg, As, Sb, Tl)
- Spectral mineralogy confirming boiling-zone illite and vertically zoned alteration
- Integration of portable PPB detectORE™ and TerraSpec® Halo for real-time vectoring
- Veins display bladed quartz and opaline silica typical of near-surface boiling
Exploration Potential
2025 drilling on the Namalau–Loma–Buca trends (1,433 m in 8 holes) confirmed feeder faults, boiling textures and illite-dominant alteration. Drill-testing of several upflow zones has provided the first subsurface confirmation of the system’s vertical continuity and fertility.
Qiriyaga Complex (Diatreme + Surge)
- System Type
- Maar-diatreme gold system with epithermal overprint
- Location
- South-western Aurum Prime, aligned with the Vunisea Fault
Key Features
- Gold hosted in phreatomagmatic breccias and surge facies
- Epithermal fluids overprinted breccia zones, enhancing gold deposition
- Multiple interpreted diatreme and breccia-pipe structures mapped within an approximately 1 km × 1 km zone; geophysics indicates additional concealed vents
- Three independent diatreme structures (QC1, QC3 and QC4) confirmed mineralised
Drill Highlights
- QC1 — VA25-DH11: 22.12 m @ 12.80 g/t Au from 43.48 m (true width 20.70 m), including 10.05 m @ 25.10 g/t Au and 1.00 m @ 83.30 g/t Au
- VA26-DH17: 16.90 m @ 3.25 g/t Au (including 9.00 m @ 4.66 g/t Au) — a vertically continuous profile through surge, wall-rock breccia and internal veining
- Geophysical and structural interpretation show the QC1 body extending to ~395 m depth, with multiple similar high-resistivity anomalies identified across the Qiriyaga Complex, Vuinubu Ridge, Vuinubu South, Drudrusavu and Loma
Exploration Potential
An interpreted primary epithermal feeder at the convergence of the Namalau, Loma and Buca Faults at ~395 m depth remains untested. Qiriyaga’s breccia-hosted, epithermally overprinted gold exhibits textures and architecture comparable to the Kelian Deposit (Indonesia).