Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) has received all assay results from the 2024 follow-up reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Siona Gold Discovery within the New England Granite in Western Australia.
Fourteen RC holes were drilled as part of the follow-up RC drilling program for a total of 2,900 metres of drilling at Siona, which is part of the Ironstone Well-Barwidgee (IWB) Gold Project.
Final results demonstrate mineralisation continuity along more than 450 metres of strike that is broadly aligned with the granodiorite-basalt contact. They also demonstrate the presence of multiple mineralised zones more than 100 metres into the footwall of the granodiorite-basalt contact.
Significantly, the mineralisation continuity associated with the granodiorite contact, combined with numerous mineralised structures internal to the host, suggests Siona is part of a complex and large-scale mineralised system.
Strong continuity
“Results from the RC program across Siona are encouraging,” Yandal Resources managing director Chris Oorschot said.
“They suggest strong mineralisation continuity associated with the granodiorite contact; they have shown a range of mineralisation styles, including broad mineralisation and narrow, higher-grade zones, and critically have provided evidence of additional mineralised structures in the footwall of the main Siona mineralised trend.
“The last point is particularly important from an exploration perspective. Mineralisation and anomalism seem to be prevalent throughout the host granodiorite.
“The exploration team firmly believes that Siona represents a small portion of a larger mineralised system."
New drilling
The company has started further RC drilling for 2025 to test numerous structural targets north of Siona along the New England Granite's intrusive margin with the goal of identifying additional mineralised positions comparable to Siona more broadly across the granitic host.
An initial 4,000 metre RC program is underway aiming to define the footprint of primary mineralisation outside of Siona and understand the broader mineralisation potential across the large-scale New England Granite target area.
"The drilling that commenced this week aims to define the extent of the mineralised system more broadly across the eastern margin of the New England Granite," Oorschot said.
“A major component of the 2024 drilling strategy was the first-stage aircore test across the large-scale Caladan and Irulan target areas. We will be looking at publishing the Caladan results soon.”
Siona discovery area displaying all drilling and drill traces. Previous RAB and AC drilling collars are colour-coded by max gold (g/t) in the hole.
These latest RC drilling to the southeast of discovery hole demonstrates mineralisation continuity along the granodiorite-mafic contact with intercepts, including:
- 26 metres at 0.5 g/t gold from 267 metres (est. true width 14-20 metres),
- 18 metres at 0.7 g/t from 141 metres (est. true width 10-16 metres),
- 24 metres at 0.4 g/t from 202 metres (est. true width 10-16 metres).
Mineralisation has been identified in the footwall of the main Siona mineralisation, with intercepts including:
- 7 metres at 1.9 g/t gold from 179 metres, including 2 metres at 6.2 g/t from 184 metres,
- 31 metres at 0.4 g/t from 211 metres, includes internal waste.
The 4.2-kilometre-long, 2-kilometre-wide New England Granite target area is part of the broader IWB Gold Project, which is around 45 kilometres north of Northern Star's Bronzewing mining complex and 75 kilometres south of the Jundee mining complex, within the Yandal Greenstone Belt.
A busy quarter ahead
Yandal enters 2025 with a strong cash position and a very active March quarter scheduled.
A well as the RC drilling, diamond drilling is also scheduled to commence this month, with several holes designed across Siona.
The diamond drilling will provide detailed geological data that will be used to refine geological and targeting models for Siona and, more broadly, across the New England Granite.
To summarise, notable near-term activities and news flow items include: