Drilling has begun at Solara Minerals LTD (ASX:SLA)'s high-priority Degrussa West Project, located 17 kilometres west of the Degrussa Copper-Gold Mine, which hosts 13.8 million tonnes at 4.8% copper and 1.8 g/t gold, and 10km north of Catalyst Metals Ltd’s Old Highway Gold Project containing 206,000 ounces of gold. The Degrussa West target sits in a favourable structural and stratigraphic position analogous to the Degrussa Mine and hosts untested geophysical and geochemical anomalies prospective for both gold and copper.
Project locations with regional geology, gold mines and gold occurrences.
Solara’s surface moving-loop electromagnetic (MLEM) survey has defined a conductive feature dipping to the north and intersecting a strong magnetic anomaly at depth. Historical soil sampling has also outlined up to 345 ppb gold and associated arsenic anomalism, which will be tested as prospective, untested near-surface gold targets.
“Solara has pushed hard to get on the ground and test targets at Degrussa West in 2025. The region has been under scrutiny for copper exploration for a number of years with gold being a secondary focus. Grid drilling in other parts of the Bryah Basin occurred, but Degrussa West wasn’t treated with this level of scrutiny. It’s time to follow up on these untested targets," Solara general manager Jennifer Neild said.
“Meanwhile, Solara is continuing to identify and assess other prospective, high-value acquisition opportunities within Australia.”
Drill program targets key structural and geochemical zones
Solara has confirmed that drilling is now underway at its 100%-owned Degrussa West Project. The campaign is designed to follow up high-priority gold-copper targets identified during the project acquisition and subsequent exploration activities.
The initial program consists of 12 reverse circulation (RC) holes totalling approximately 2,800m.
Drilling will focus on a key position where structural complexity, geochemical anomalism and favourable geology converge. The company will target the contact between the Naracoota Volcanics/Karalundi Formation and the Peak Hill Schist, where the recent MLEM survey identified significant conductive responses.
2025 Magnetics (RTP1VD) map showing MLEM lines from recent survey covering the contact between the Karalundi and the Naracoota Volanics.
The conductive feature extends for roughly 2km along strike and may represent a mineralised structure proximal to favourable stratigraphy.
DHEM surveying and funding support future work
Downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveying is planned for two RC holes to determine whether follow-up diamond drilling is warranted, potentially extending current RC holes or advancing deeper core drilling.
The start of the program is supported by $180,000 in Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) funding awarded to Solara in October 2025, providing a strong foundation for the next phase of exploration at Degrussa West.