Evolution Mining has secured complete ownership of the Crush Creek project after drill results demonstrating its potential to extend the life of the nearby Mount Carlton gold operation.

Evolution entered into an earn-in agreement with Basin Gold last year over the Crush Creek project, 30km south-east of the Mount Carlton mining and processing operation.

Evolution has now achieved the requirement of sole funding $7 million of exploration expenditure to earn a 70 per cent interest in the project.

It is paying $4.5 million to acquire the remaining 30 per cent of the project from Basin Gold, which will also retain a 10 per cent Net Profit Interest on any gold production in excess of 100,000 ounces.

Crush Creek hosts low sulphidation epithermal gold mineralisation and Evolution has reported encouraging results from BV7, Delta, The Kink and Gamma prospects.

It said drilling was continuing at these prospects during the December quarter, focusing on the high-grade plunge to the north of BV7, as well as follow up drilling at The Kink and Gamma prospects.

“Drilling at Crush Creek has returned promising results and reinforces our belief that mineralisation we are delineating has the potential to extend mine life at Mount Carlton,” Evolution vice-president discovery and business development Glen Masterman said.