Lion One Metals Limited has announced outstanding results from underground drilling at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The latest programme, comprising 4,040.90 metres of infill and grade control drilling, has returned multiple high-grade gold intersections, reinforcing the potential of the Zone 5 portion of the mine.
Drilling focused on the down-dip extension of the UR2 lode below levels 1084 and 1066, the lowest currently developed sections of the mine. Seventeen of 22 drillholes returned high-grade mineralisation, with most intercepts located 20–60 metres beneath level 1084. Two drillholes were abandoned.
Headline results include:
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99.13 g/t Au over 3.3 m (including 459.05 g/t over 0.3 m and 338.00 g/t over 0.5 m) from 136.4 m depth (TGC-0454)
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218.31 g/t Au over 1.2 m (including 366.00 g/t over 0.6 m) from 109 m depth (TGC-0457)
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24.86 g/t Au over 4.6 m (including 56.29 g/t over 0.5 m) from 133.92 m depth (TGC-0482)
“The Zone 5 down-dip drilling confirms the vertical continuity of high-grade mineralisation in this part of the deposit,” said Melvyn Levrel, MAIG, Senior Geologist for Lion One and Qualified Person under NI 43-101 standards. “The deepest intercept, 16.09 g/t gold over 1.0 m, occurs roughly 125 m below level 1084, representing approximately six additional mining levels and promising significant near-term additions to the mine plan.”
The UR2 lode, one of the principal north-south oriented lodes in Zone 5, dips steeply to the east and has a strike length of approximately 600 metres. Current underground operations extend along levels 1150 and 1170 at the top of the mine, with ongoing development along levels 1084 and 1066/1068 at the base.
Drilling was conducted from the 1135 underground drill station and targeted a 125-metre strike panel and 60-metre vertical section of the UR2 lode. The narrow, high-grade intersections—typical of Tuvatu’s mineralised structures—pinch and swell along strike, occasionally producing larger intervals such as 4.6 m of 24.86 g/t gold.
Lion One operates its own fully accredited laboratory, adhering to stringent QA/QC procedures. Samples are analysed on site using fire assay with AA finish, with re-analysis of high-grade samples by gravimetric methods. Independent check assays are conducted at ALS Global Laboratories in Australia.
Headquartered in North Vancouver, Lion One Metals is an emerging gold producer that commenced operations at Tuvatu in late 2023. The Tuvatu project includes the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, an underground gold mine, pilot plant, and assay laboratory. Lion One holds an extensive exploration licence over the Navilawa Caldera, which hosts multiple mineralised zones and exploration targets.
