Surefire Resources NL has launched a major exploration program across its wholly owned Yidby Gold Project in Western Australia, aiming to expand known mineralisation and test multiple new targets within the 140 square kilometre tenement.
The Yidby Gold Project sits within the same greenstone belt as Capricorn Metals Ltd’s Mt Gibson gold deposit, which hosts a resource of 3.9 million ounces and lies approximately 30 kilometres to the south. Capricorn Metals has recently expanded its landholding to encompass the area surrounding Surefire’s tenements.
Yidby Gold project location map.
Surefire’s campaign includes 5,000 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling and 2,000 metres of diamond drilling, with activities set to target all identified gold prospects.
Among the high-priority targets is the “Money Anomaly” — a 1 kilometre by 500 metre soil and stream sediment gold zone located about 1 kilometre southeast of the known Yidby Gold mineralisation.
“The “Money Anomaly” where MMI combined with very high Gold in stream results is an absolute stand-out and we are looking forward to putting boots on the ground there as soon as possible,” Surefire Resources managing director, Paul Burton, said.
The company has also generated additional targets within the broader Yidby system using advanced multi-element geochemical analysis undertaken by GALT Mining Solutions, incorporating the Geotek BoxScan system.
“The new targets generated from Boxscan are compelling confirming the Yidby gold project has significant upside to extend known mineralisation. With metallurgical work already completed this will advance the project significantly at a time when Gold prices are at an all-time high, placing Yidby as one of the better undeveloped gold projects in the Murchison district,” Burton said.
New deeper targets
The Yidby Gold Project hosts significant mineralised zones, with anomalous gold currently defined along a three-kilometre strike length. High-grade, bonanza-style intersections occur within a broader, lower-grade porphyry system. To date, drilling has focused on near-surface mineralisation to depths of up to 200 metres, with further potential at depth to be assessed in the next drilling program.
The company has recently refined its targeting approach through mineralogical mapping using the Geotek Boxscan system at Galt Mining Solutions (Galt). This work has identified new gold-bearing mafic lithologies, unveiling prospective targets at depth that could significantly expand the known gold system.
Developed by United Kingdom-based Geotek Ltd., the Boxscan system represents a cutting-edge advancement in geological analysis. It features multi-sensor core scanning technology that enables high-resolution, non-destructive acquisition of up to six datasets from a single scan. This integrated approach delivers robust geological and resource assessments, enhancing exploration accuracy and efficiency across mineral systems.
In 2021, Surefire conducted a Mobile Metal Ion (MMI) geochemical survey across Yidby to assess potential extensions of the existing gold system. The survey identified a new, highly anomalous area now referred to as the “Money Anomaly”, which displayed a geochemical signature consistent with the Yidby Gold deposit, suggesting the potential for mineralisation in this untested area.
At the time, exploration efforts remained focused on the Yidby deposit itself, and no drilling was carried out at the Money Anomaly.
MMI Geochemical anomalies and streams sediment sampling.
A recent review of historical exploration has highlighted stream sediment sampling conducted by Prosperity Resources in 2007. This work included four samples from within the Money Anomaly area, all returning gold values above 1 part per million (ppm), with a peak result of 101.17 ppm gold.
In response, the company plans to undertake a program of rock chip sampling, geological mapping, and additional stream sediment sampling to refine drill targets within this prospective zone.
What’s next?
The company will prioritise its gold and copper assets in the near term while continuing discussions with parties in Saudi Arabia, Europe and London regarding the Victory Bore project.
This strategic focus supports ongoing exploration at the Yidby Gold Project, aimed at unlocking its potential and positioning it for future resource growth and development.
The forward work program includes:
- Follow-up drilling campaign
- Planning for further drilling to expand high-grade gold zones and test newly identified targets
- Undertaking deeper drilling to assess down-dip extensions of known mineralisation
- Estimation and modelling
- Integrating recent assay results to enhance the geological model and improve confidence in gold estimates
- Defining the potential economic viability of future mining operations
- Exploration and geophysical surveys
- Conducting additional geophysical surveys as required to refine drill targeting
- Expanding soil sampling and geological mapping to identify new mineralised zones
- Project advancement and stakeholder engagement
- Continuing engagement with regulatory authorities and local stakeholders to support approvals
- Evaluating infrastructure and logistics requirements for various development scenarios