Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) said an ongoing in-fill reverse circulation drill program at the Theia deposit returned several high-grade intervals, showing "significant potential" for the stage one open pit at its Mandilla gold project in Western Australia, according to a Tuesday filing with the Australian bourse.

The latest assay results, with a weighted average grade of 1.54 grams per tonne grade of gold, are in line with expectations, the company said.

Some of the best results highlighted by the company include one meter at 1.09 g/t gold from 75 meters, 23 meters at 1.05 g/t from 102 meters, 7 meters at 10.4 g/t from 133 meters, 10 meters at 1.08 g/t from 22 meters, and 13 meters at 5 g/t from 36 meters, among others.

Astral Resources also reported "exceptional results" for AMRCD374, a reverse circulation hole that was drilled from within the stage one open pit footprint, but noted that the hole was terminated well before target at a depth of nearly 319 meters due to excessive deviation.

The company's shares gained 1% in recent Tuesday trade.