Leeuwin Metals outlines high-grade gold over 1.6km for drilling at Marda

A review of historical drilling and sampling across the Marda project has paved the way for follow-up drill planning.

Confirmation of shallow gold mineralisation across Leeuwin Metals’ Marda gold project has laid the groundwork for follow-up drilling. Pic: Getty Images

• Leeuwin Metals’ review of historical drilling has identified shallow gold mineralisation over a 1.6km trend

• Historical drilling confirms broad zones of gold in areas that were never mined

• Drill planning is now underway over the Evanston prospect

Special report: Analysis of historical drilling and sampling at the Evanston prospect within Leeuwin Metals’ Marda project in WA has confirmed the presence of shallow gold across a 1.6km trend.

As one of Leeuwin Metals’ (ASX:LM1) high-priority prospects, Evanston boasts four legacy open pits mined between 1998 and 2000 yet remains vastly underexplored with modern techniques.

The review points to scale and continuity at Evanston and given mineralisation remains open in all directions, the prospect has been fast-tracked for drilling as part of LM1’s 2025 exploration campaign.

Field inspection and rock chip sampling of pit walls at Evanston returned multiple gold assays including 28.6g/t, 8.88g/t, 5.56g/t and 15.9g/t gold.

A range of drill intercepts such as 3.6m at 16.4g/t gold from 1m, 13m at 4.38g/t from 4m and 16m at 3.02g/t from 4m were identified during the review outside previously mined areas.

LM1 says the plan now is to target extensions to known zones as well as structurally controlled mineralisation beyond pit margins.

Regional targets including Golden Orb and King Brown will also be reviewed for follow-up.

Watch: Historical drill data gives gold star for Marda

Marda gold acquisition

The explorer completed the acquisition of Marda in late March from Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS) and kicked off a 2,000m drilling campaign shortly thereafter, forming the first stage of a broader 10,000m program.

Marda covers more than 500km2 of granted mining, exploration and prospecting licences north of Southern Cross in WA, representing a large, underexplored gold system with near-mine and greenfields potential.

It holds a broad target base across four main areas – Marda Central, Marda North, Marda South and Marda West – featuring varying stages of exploration maturity including resource definition, historical workings, geochemical anomalies and untested concepts.

Gold prices climbed past US$3,400 per ounce overnight on Tuesday, marking its highest level in two weeks.

Investment demand for the yellow metal rose 170% year on year in the March quarter, hitting a level not seen since Q1 2022.

Watch: Leeuwin Metals making Goldfields strides into Marda

Plans for follow-up drilling

LM1 executive chairman Christopher Piggot said the results of the review were in line with its strategy to progress several prospects across Marda.

“They show there is clearly extensive shallow mineralisation which remains open along strike and at depth,” he said.

“The historical drilling confirms broad zones of high-grade gold in areas that were never mined.

“With assays from Marda Central due this month and planning underway for follow-up drilling, and drill planning also progressing at Evanston, we’re set for strong news flow over the coming months.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Leeuwin Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Leeuwin Metals outlines high-grade gold over 1.6km for drilling at Marda