Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML, OTCQB:RLMLF, FRA:NC3) earlier this week outlined plans for a significantly expanded Phase 2 drilling campaign at the Golden Gate area of its Horse Heaven Antimony-Tungsten-Gold-Silver Project in Idaho, US, as the company pushes toward a maiden resource target by late 2026 or early 2027.
CEO of US Operations Craig Lindsay told Proactive the company had secured two diamond core drill rigs for a 45,000-foot drilling program comprising around 40 to 45 holes. The campaign follows a 10,000-foot program completed in 2024 that delivered intercepts of up to 250 metres grading more than one gram per tonne gold.
Lindsay said the company would initially focus on the southern portion of the three-kilometre Golden Gate target, where soil surveys have identified both gold and tungsten anomalies along a north-south mineralised structure.
He said the objective was to establish deposits at both the northern and southern ends of Golden Gate before demonstrating continuity between the two zones.
According to Lindsay, the geology at Golden Gate shares similarities with the nearby Stibnite project operated by Perpetua Resources, which hosts approximately 6.5 million ounces of gold and is advancing toward production.
Alongside the gold opportunity, Resolution Minerals is also positioning Horse Heaven as a potential domestic US tungsten and antimony project amid rising strategic demand for critical minerals.
Lindsay noted that the historic Golden Gate Tungsten Mine previously produced tungsten grades ranging from around 1.5% to 2%, while recent metallurgical testing on acquired stockpiles generated a tungsten concentrate grading about 52%.
“We love the gold story at Golden Gate, but tungsten is something that’s generating a lot of interest,” Lindsay said.
The company recently acquired the Johnson Creek mill adjacent to the project, including several thousand tonnes of historic stockpiles, providing additional optionality as metallurgical work progresses.
Lindsay also highlighted growing US government support for domestic critical mineral supply chains, particularly for tungsten and antimony, where China currently dominates global supply.
Beyond drilling, Resolution Minerals recently completed a A$20 million financing at A$0.07 per share and is pursuing a Nasdaq listing to broaden access to US capital markets.
The company is also advancing permitting and metallurgical programs across Horse Heaven, with approximately 25 personnel expected to be active on site during the upcoming exploration season.
Interview highlights
- Resolution Minerals has secured two diamond core drill rigs for a major Phase 2 drilling campaign at Golden Gate in Idaho.
- The company plans to complete approximately 45,000 feet of drilling across 40 to 45 holes.
- The program is roughly four times larger than the 2024 drilling campaign.
- Previous drilling returned intercepts of up to 250 metres grading more than 1g/t gold.
- Golden Gate is a three-kilometre-long target with gold mineralisation identified at both the north and south ends.
- The southern target area has seen limited historical drilling and hosts gold and tungsten soil anomalies.
- Resolution Minerals is targeting a maiden gold resource by late 2026 or early 2027.
- The company believes Golden Gate shares geological similarities with the nearby Stibnite gold project.
- Historic tungsten production at Golden Gate reportedly graded between 1.5% and 2% tungsten.
- Metallurgical testing on stockpiles produced a 52% tungsten concentrate through gravity processing.
- Management sees strong strategic demand for tungsten and antimony in the United States.
- Resolution Minerals recently completed a A$20 million financing and is pursuing a Nasdaq listing.
- The company is advancing permitting and metallurgical work across the broader Horse Heaven project.
Proactive: Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML, OTCQB:RLMLF) has secured two diamond core drill rigs for a major Phase 2 drilling program at the Golden Gate area of its Horse Heaven Antimony-Tungsten-Gold-Silver Project in Idaho, US. To talk us through the program is CEO of US Operations Craig Lindsay. Craig, always good to see you.
Craig Lindsay: Great to be with you today. Appreciate you taking the time.
Proactive: There’s a fair bit going on, but we’re going to concentrate on the drilling at Golden Gate today. Talk us through the campaign and the key objectives.
Craig Lindsay: What’s exciting about Golden Gate is it’s a three-kilometre-long target with a lot of gold at surface. You’ve got three-gram and four-gram material at the south end of the strike and seven-gram material at the north end.
Last year we completed 10,000 feet of drilling over 14 holes and got some spectacular results, including intercepts of up to 250 metres grading over one gram per tonne gold. We’re following that up with a program about four times the size this year.
We’ll drill around 45,000 feet, or just under 15,000 metres, using two drills across about 40 to 45 holes. Logistics are going well and we expect the first drill to start turning shortly. The program should run for about three to three-and-a-half months.
Initially we’ll target the southern end of Golden Gate, which has seen very limited drilling. Soil surveys have identified both gold and tungsten anomalies throughout the area, and it sits along the north-south fault zone that controls mineralisation at Golden Gate.
We’re excited about the opportunity to grow the gold resource and also target tungsten. Historically, the Golden Gate Tungsten Mine produced intermittently between about 1950 and 1980 at grades ranging from around 1.5% to 2% tungsten.
We’ve acquired the Johnson Creek mill adjacent to the project and inherited several thousand tonnes of stockpiles from the historic operation. Assays average around 1.85% tungsten, consistent with historic production records.
Recent metallurgical work using simple gravity processing produced a tungsten concentrate grading about 52%, representing roughly a 19-times upgrade from the original feed grade. We’re very excited about the tungsten story, while the gold opportunity remains significant as well.
Proactive: You mentioned scale. How important is this drilling program in advancing Golden Gate toward a maiden resource?
Craig Lindsay: It’s very important. When you combine this year’s planned 45,000 feet of drilling with last year’s 10,000 feet and the historic drilling completed in the 1980s and 1990s, we believe we can target an initial maiden resource by the end of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027.
The focus is on developing a gold deposit at both the north and south ends of the target and then demonstrating continuity between the two. That’s what could ultimately deliver significant scale.
The nearby Stibnite gold project has similar geology and hosts around 6.5 million ounces of gold. We believe Golden Gate shares many of the same geological characteristics and has the potential to develop scale in a similar way.
Proactive: How does the tungsten opportunity complement the broader project economics?
Craig Lindsay: There’s very strong demand in the United States for critical metals, and the US government is actively supporting domestic supply development. Antimony and tungsten are both considered critical minerals, and Horse Heaven hosts both.
China currently dominates the tungsten market, which has created strategic concerns for the US. Tungsten is widely used as a steel hardener and has applications across defence and industrial markets, including armoured materials, electronics, shipbuilding and manufacturing.
Pricing has strengthened significantly, driving interest in tungsten projects. The US government has also issued calls for tungsten projects as part of efforts to support domestic supply chains.
We love the gold story at Golden Gate, but tungsten is generating a lot of additional attention and interest.
Proactive: What should investors expect over the next few months?
Craig Lindsay: We recently completed a A$20 million financing at seven cents per share, and much of the support came from existing investors. We’re also preparing to host investors on site at the project.
In addition to our ASX listing and OTCQB presence, we’ve applied for a Nasdaq listing. We believe that could improve liquidity and broaden investor interest, particularly in the US critical minerals market.
We’re also advancing permitting activities across the Horse Heaven project, including at Antimony Ridge and Golden Gate, while continuing metallurgical testing for both antimony and tungsten.
There’s a lot happening. We expect around 25 people to be active on site over the next few months, and we’re looking forward to a busy and exciting summer.
Proactive: Lots to look forward to. Thanks for your time this morning.
Craig Lindsay: I appreciate you taking the time. Great to see you.