First Development Resources (AIM:FDR) told investors it has completed Phase I, Stage II reverse circulation drilling at its Lander West Gold Project in Australia's Northern Territory, with 16 holes drilled for 1,605 metres.
The AIM-listed exploration company tested along strike and down-dip of priority targets identified during the first drilling stage, as well as additional magnetic targets within the Red Handed target area.
That first stage had confirmed gold mineralisation in bedrock, including 7 metres at 0.40 g/t gold from 50 metres downhole in hole 26LWR08, with 2 metres grading 0.98 g/t gold within that interval.
The follow-up programme was designed to test whether that mineralisation extends further, seeking higher grades, greater thickness and evidence of continuity between intersections.
Drilling finished a day ahead of schedule after severe weather moved toward the site.
Samples are now being prepared for dispatch to Adelaide for analysis, with results to follow.
"Having spent time on site alongside the team, I would like to thank Bullion Drilling for their excellent work throughout the programme", said Tristan Pottas, chief executive officer of First Development Resources.
Stage II followed a soil-sampling programme across the wider Lander West area, covering the Red Handed, Red Hackle and part of the Giles target zones, with those samples also prepared for laboratory assessment.
The company has said the Stage II drilling and soil-sampling work are being run independently of each other, with both expected to sharpen target ranking at Lander West as results come in.
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