Maritana Minerals (ASX: MRT) has identified depth potential at its Burbanks gold project following the completion of Phase two resource definition drilling at the site, which is located nine kilometres south of Coolgardie in the Western Australian Goldfields. The Coolgardie-Kalgoorlie district has been a mainstay of Australian gold production since the 1890s gold rush that first opened up the Goldfields.

The Phase two program concentrated on an area known as Main Lode, combining infill drilling of the existing mineral resource with testing of extensions to mineralisation. Infill drilling is designed to tighten drill spacing within the existing resource and lift confidence in the geological model, while extension drilling tests for mineralisation beyond known limits. The majority of the drill program was carried out by collaring holes from neighbouring tenements held by Auric Mining in order to improve intercept angles.

Phase two comprised 20 holes for a total of approximately 6,400 metres, and follows the initial Phase one campaign of 53 holes totalling 15,798 metres.

"Phase two drilling has successfully extended the high-grade mineralised footprint at depth below the Main Lode, with consistent intercepts confirming continuity of the Burbanks shear," Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Grant Haywood said.

"The ongoing success of the drilling program continues to de-risk the project and enhance development potential. Burbanks Underground is firming as a new potential source of feed for Maritana's 100% owned Black Swan Processing Hub to enhance and extend our existing LOM plan," he said.

The Black Swan Processing Hub is located near Kalgoorlie and sits at the centre of Maritana's plan to process feed from its Goldfields projects through its own infrastructure.

Recent assays have returned further high-grade intercepts, with significant intervals including 0.48 metres at 25.19 grams per tonne (g/t) from 224.63 metres, and 0.76 metres at 9.02 g/t from 231.42 metres, including 0.38 metres at 16.41 g/t from 231.42 metres. Narrow, high-grade intercepts of this style are characteristic of shear-hosted gold systems across the Coolgardie district.

Mr Haywood said the drilling results improve Maritana's understanding of the mineralised host lithology, orebody continuity and structural controls, as well as the potential for extension beyond the current global Burbanks mineral resource estimate (MRE).

"Additionally, the drilling will support the conversion of a portion of Inferred resources to Indicated, supporting future ore reserves," he said.

Under the JORC Code, which governs how Australian miners report exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves, Inferred material carries the lowest confidence category, and only Indicated and Measured resources can underpin the ore reserves used in mine planning.

The Phase two assays now feed into Maritana's resource modelling, with conversion of Inferred material to Indicated and future ore reserve estimation the stated objectives ahead of any underground development decisions.

Prior to the market open, MRT shares were steady at 80.5 cents, giving the company a market capitalisation of $299.3 million.