2025 is shaping to be another tumultuous year on the world stage, with unresolved tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East that threaten supply chains for the energy and minerals sectors.
Added to that, economies around the world are still reckoning with inflation and skittish currencies, and it’s unclear what a slowing Chinese economy will do to manufacturing, or what a new administration in the US will bring for some of that country’s big sectors, including technology.
In such a context, the perennial safe bet, gold, is likely to continue the bullish run it enjoyed in 2024, when prices reached A$4,262.30 per ounce on December 11, and the precious metal achieved an average price of A$3,622.43 per ounce – a whopping 39.96% up on the previous year.
It’s worth keeping an eye on these Australian resource companies, which are exploring for gold at home and abroad.
Predictive Discovery
During 2024, Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX:ASX:PDI (OTC:IDXG), OTC:PDIYF) fielded encouraging results from its ongoing drilling campaign at the Sounsoun target within the 5.38-million-ounce Bankan Gold Project in Guinea.
Resource definition drilling late in the year delineated gold mineralisation associated with an east-west trending shear zone. Notable intersections included 6 metres at 19.98 g/t gold from 13 metres, including 2 metres at 53.92 g/t and 13 metres at 3.28 g/t from 132 metres.
The results at Sounsoun demonstrated mineralisation continuity over a strike length of at least 300 metres, remaining open at depth. Additional intersections, such as 15 metres at 1.34 g/t from 49 metres and 6 metres at 1.78 g/t from 170 metres, reinforced the target’s resource potential.
Predictive is considering follow-up drilling to refine its maiden mineral resource estimate, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2025.
Resource definition drilling resumed at Fouwagbe, another key target within the Argo area, with an additional maiden mineral resource estimate planned.
There was also exploration activity at Bokoro South and across the broader Bankan Gold Project, as part of the company’s strategy to expand its gold inventory within the highly prospective region.
With multiple maiden resource estimates on track for early 2025, Predictive Discovery is well-positioned as a leading gold explorer in West Africa.
Yandal Resources
In early December, Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) received promising results from its Siona Gold Discovery within the Ironstone Well-Barwidgee (IWB) Gold Project in the Yandal Greenstone Belt of WA.
The reverse circulation (RC) drilling confirmed mineralisation continuity along more than 300 metres of strike, with higher-grade zones identified, including visible gold.
This discovery pointed to the potential for significant high-grade gold deposits within a broader lower-grade envelope, underscoring the structural and geological potential of the region.
Managing director Chris Oorschot noted: “Higher-grade zones are likely, and to see evidence of such at this early stage is an excellent result.”
The New England Granite (NEG) target area, part of the IWB Gold Project, is just 45 kilometres from Northern Star’s Bronzewing complex and 75 kilometres south of the Jundee mining centre.
Drilling, including both RC and diamond programs, is set to resume in early 2025, with a focus on advancing the Siona discovery.
Tolu Minerals
In 2024, Tolu Minerals Ltd (ASX:TOK) advanced its Tolukuma Gold Project in Papua New Guinea with the completion of a nine-hole diamond drilling program at the Taula vein system, 4.5 kilometres southeast of the Tolukuma mine.
This program uncovered high-grade gold and silver mineralisation, with standout intersections including 1 metre at 61.20 g/t gold and 1,979 g/t silver within a broader 4.80-metre zone at 22.79 g/t gold and 513.2 g/t silver.
The Taula vein system hosts more than 1,500 metres of strike length at surface, remaining open to the north and south. Subsurface drilling extended the known mineralisation along strike to over 450 metres at depth.
This program also validated geophysical tools such as 3D Induced Polarisation and Airborne Magneto Telluric surveys, bolstering confidence in these techniques for future exploration.
Plans are underway to develop a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE), further enhancing the project’s economic potential.
With strong results from trench sampling, including 9 metres at 9.25 g/t gold, and historical intersections supporting the current exploration, Taula is poised to contribute significantly to the Tolukuma resource.
Tolu Minerals aims to continue resource expansion drilling into 2025, targeting additional high-grade zones within the broader Tolukuma system.
Riversgold
Riversgold Ltd (ASX:RGL) took a major step forward in 2024 at its Northern Zone Intrusive Hosted Gold Project, 25 kilometres east of the Kalgoorlie Super Pit in Western Australia, with the submission of a mining lease application to the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
While the application process may take more than 12 months, the company plans to use this time to advance its drilling campaigns and refine its geological understanding of the project.
The latest exploration results continue to expand the footprint of the high-grade oxide zone within the 600-metre-wide porphyry system.
Gold mineralisation remains open in multiple directions, with recent drill programs targeting shallow, higher-grade zones that could guide future reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling.
The company is using Leapfrog 3D modelling to refine areas for exploration, aiming to mature the project and support a maiden mineral resource estimate.
Processing synergies have also emerged as a key advantage for the Northern Zone – the project’s proximity to Black Cat Syndicate’s Myhree open pit, just 7 kilometres north, offers potential processing solutions, as demonstrated by Black Cat’s successful use of a turnkey funding, development and processing package.
Riversgold has drawn comparisons between Northern Zone and Saturn Metals’ Apollo Hill Gold Project, highlighting the potential for a large-scale, low-grade heap leach operation at Northern Zone.
With a growing resource footprint and favourable ore processing options, Riversgold is positioning Northern Zone as a high-potential gold project.
Ora Banda Mining
Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX:OBM) marked a major milestone in 2024 with the first ore intersected at the Sand King Underground mine, a core asset of the Davyhurst Gold Project in Western Australia.
The mine’s rapid progress, with ore discovered just four months after portal establishment, speaks to strong execution by the company.
As part of the company’s 'Drive to 150' initiative, targeting 140,000-160,000 ounces annually by the 2026 financial year, Sand King is positioned for a transformative role in Ora Banda’s growth trajectory.
Last year’s grade control drilling confirmed high-grade lodes, with intersections such as 6.0 metres at 9.5 g/t and 3.5 metres at 13.2 g/t, enhancing the mine's potential.
Underground development advanced on schedule, achieving 835 metres of development in 2024, setting the mine up to deliver first stoping ore by March 2025.
Steady-state production of around 60,000 ounces per annum is anticipated to commence in mid-2025, reinforcing Sand King as a cornerstone of future output.
Surface drilling extended high-grade lodes at Sand King North, with standout results such as 8.0 metres at 5.4 g/t, including 2.7 metres at 13.6 g/t.
With a solid 2024 foundation, Sand King’s output is set to scale in 2025, making Ora Banda a gold mining company to watch as it ramps up production and cashflows.