Leeuwin Metals Ltd (ASX:LM1) is progressing with its strategy to scale up the Marda Gold Project in Western Australia, following the completion of Phase 2 of its 10,000-metre drilling campaign for 2025.
The recent 3,000-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program focused on extensions to high-grade gold mineralisation at the Python and Golden Orb pits in the Marda Central area. Assays from this drilling are expected in the coming weeks.
Focus on Python and Golden Orb pits
The Phase 2 drilling aimed to extend the shallow, high-grade mineralisation encountered in earlier drilling at these pits, which were previously mined. These results, combined with those from Phase 1, further reinforce the potential of the Marda Gold Project to grow into a significant resource.
“We have so much potential to test as part of our plan to establish a WA gold project with real scale,” Leeuwin Metals executive chairman Christopher Piggott said.
“Given all these opportunities and the huge upside, we are moving almost seamlessly from one drilling program to the next,” he added. “The program just completed further validated Marda’s excellent potential for near-surface ounces and expanding our understanding of the broader system.”
Plans for Phase 3 drilling at Evanston
Looking ahead, Leeuwin is preparing for Phase 3 drilling at the high-grade Evanston target, located within the project area.
Regional Geology with Key project areas highlighted.
Drilling at Evanston is set to start in July and will focus on testing the continuity and scale of mineralisation across a highly prospective trend. Historical high-grade results from the area have already shown strong potential, and Leeuwin plans to follow up with additional drilling to further assess the extent of the mineralisation.
In addition to the drilling at Evanston, Leeuwin is conducting 3D geological modelling and structural interpretation of the Marda project area.
These activities will help define high-priority drilling targets and refine future exploration plans across the broader project area. A regional review is also under way, focusing on key targets such as Golden Orb and King Brown, to build a pipeline of follow-up drilling targets.
High-grade results from Phase 1 drilling
The ongoing exploration efforts are building on the successful results from Phase 1 drilling, which identified multiple high-grade gold zones. Notable results from Phase One included:
- 16m @ 2g/t Au from 134m & 8m @ 3.04g/t Au from 215m (MGRC0006)
- 22m @ 1.25g/t Au from 123m, including 3m @ 6.3g/t Au from 123m (MGRC0004)
- 21m @ 1.09g/t Au from 98m & 9m @ 2.46g/t Au from 190m (MGRC0005)
- 2m @ 5.45g/t Au from 77m & 4m @ 1.52g/t Au from 150m (MGRC0003)
These results confirmed the presence of multiple high-grade mineralised zones at depth and along strike, which the Phase 2 drilling program has targeted for extension.
Marda Gold Project potential
The Marda Gold Project covers more than 500 square kilometres and includes eight historical open pits along with several near-mine targets. The project is in the Goldfields region of WA, a well-known mining area with excellent access to infrastructure and processing facilities.
Leeuwin remains well-funded to continue its aggressive exploration and development efforts throughout 2025.
“With assays expected in three to six weeks and drilling planned at Evanston, the company is looking to build a significant project over the course of 2025,” Piggott said.