Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) about to kick off its next phase of exploration with a 2,500-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Oblique prospect, part of the Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Project.
Convenient location promising gold
This project is conveniently situated between the well-known mining hubs of Jundee and Bronzewing in the Northern Yandal Belt.
Ironstone Well/Barwidgee Project Overview showing the outline of YRL tenure, regional interpreted bedrock geology and the location of prospects.
The upcoming RC drilling program is a follow-up to the initial program conducted in October, which reaffirmed the potential of the Oblique prospect.
Oblique boasts a broad regolith gold anomalism linked to a magnetic high, with a target footprint spanning over 1.9 kilometres, based on earlier shallow drilling results.
What makes Oblique particularly intriguing is its resemblance to Strickland's recent Marwari discovery within the same Northern Yandal Belt.
Both prospects share common characteristics, including discrete magnetic features and a history of extensive gold anomalism identified in historic drilling within a complex and deeply weathered regolith.
The drilling campaign is anticipated to wrap up within two to three weeks, with assay results expected some four to five weeks after the conclusion of drilling.
Previous drilling highlights at Oblique include:
- 12 metres at 1.9 g/t gold from 86 metres, including 8 metres at 2.7 g/t;
- 12 metres at 1.2 g/t from 72 metres, including 3 metres at 3.2 g/t from 72 metres;
- 11 metres at 1.8 g/t from 31 metres, including 6 metres at 3.0 g/t from 35 metres; and
- 8 metres at 1.1 g/t from 51 metres and 4 metres at 1.6 g/t from 68 metres (end of hole).
In addition to these promising results, the October 2023 program returned highlights such as 24 metres at 0.7 g/t gold from 26 metres, including 8 metres at 1.2 g/t and 3 metres at 1.3 g/t, reinforcing the company’s optimism as it heads into the current campaign.
The company is also encouraged by the recent discovery of Marwari by Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX:STK) in the same region. Both prospects share magnetic features and extensive gold anomalism and point to potential untapped resources in the northern Yandal Belt.
Forward plan
Despite challenging drilling conditions associated with swelling clays, the forthcoming RC program aims to build upon the initial testing conducted in October.
It will target further mineralisation within the defined exploration target extents and assess mineralisation 400 metres south of previous RC drilling.
Should drilling conditions pose challenges at Oblique, the rig may be redirected to the nearby Quarter Moon prospect, with plans for additional Oblique drilling deferred until a diamond rig can be mobilised.
As Yandal Resources gears up for a dynamic Q4 2023, it plans to:
- focus on follow-up exploration drilling at Oblique;
- refine exploration targets at the New England Granite (NEG) prospect;
- prepare for drilling at Quarter Moon;
- finalize exploration targets across the Gordons Gold Project; and
- evaluate the lithium potential of its 100% owned projects.