Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX:STK) has discovered what it describes as a significant 2.6-kilometre gold trend, extending south from Marwari to Warmblood within its Yandal Gold Project in Western Australia.
This discovery links Marwari with Warmblood and Filly Central, highlighting a substantial and coherent corridor of gold mineralisation that has yet to be fully tested, particularly at depth.
Largely unexplored gold corridor
Strickland's work, conducted over the recent Christmas period, has not only delineated this largely unexplored corridor but has also provided new insights into the initial drilling results at Marwari, enhancing the company's understanding of its potential.
The corridor, marked by a combination of favourable geology, intense alteration and structural complexities, presents an attractive target for exploration.
Initial drilling at Marwari revealed a significant northeast cross-cutting structure, suggesting a geological setting similar to that observed at the company's previously sold Millrose Gold Project, where analogous structures influenced gold distribution.
"Substantial work has occurred over the Christmas break digesting the large drilling programs Strickland undertook in the second half of 2023,” said CEO Andrew Bray.
"Pleasingly, the company has now confidently delineated a coherent gold corridor extending 2.6 kilometres south from Marwari to the Warmblood prospect, where Strickland announced a new aircore result on December 20, 2023, in HWAC1809 - 36 metres at 1.2 g/t gold from 24 metres including 16 metres at 2.5 g/t.
"This corridor remains entirely untested in several large portions along strike, and largely untested at depth for almost the entirety of the prospect area. For example, only 7% of drilling has occurred below 150 metres and only 3% below 200 metres depth.
"It has also become apparent the initial holes at Marwari were drilled on a significant NE cross-cutting structure. Strickland is now confident that this is what occurred with the initial Marwari drilling.
"What this means is that the remainder of the 2.6-kilometre corridor represents a very compelling exploration target.
"Strickland remains very confident in the potential for this corridor to yield significant additional mineralisation."
Further analysis will refine targets
The company is relogging historical drill chips and conducting litho-geochemical analysis on this corridor, as well as the wider Horse Well area, to assist with further drill targeting.
Despite the challenges posed by these geological structures, Strickland is optimistic about the exploration potential outside these areas.
Initial priority targets include:
- Filly Gap - testing for mineralisation below intersections such as 10 metres at 24.3 g/t gold from 89 metres to bottom of hole including 3 metres at 48.3 g/t;
- Marwari South - targeting below aircore hole HWAC1550 - 60 metres at 0.5 g/t gold from 40 metres including 4 metres at 3.5 g/t - and down-plunge of the discovery hole HWAC1472 - 31 metres at 5.6 g/t gold from 72 metres to bottom of hole;
- Marwari North - testing below oxide intersections such as 8 metres at 3.3 g/t gold from 40 metres; and
- Warmblood South - testing for extensions to the Warmblood deposit below intersections including 23 metres at 2.1 g/t gold from 79 metres.
The exploration strategy will focus on areas both north and south of the identified northeast structures, with drilling set to commence following the wet season.